#B04FCB: Countdown to kick-off

The Werkself face record champions Bayern Munich in the top game on Saturday night. The men from Munich have a busy schedule with Wednesday night’s Champions League first leg game against Real Madrid followed by next Tuesday’s return match in Spain. Enough time to concentrate on the game against the Werkself? The match at the BayArena kicks off at 18:30 CET and will be refereed by Daniel Siebert from Berlin. Read on for the facts and stats on #B04FCB:

Home game history

The Werkself are often courageous in taking on the great Bayern team at the BayArena and the two sides are almost level according to the home record. 13 wins for the Werkself compare with 15 for Bayern. Another win for Volland, Brandt and Co. on Saturday would move them closer together.

Chasing Bayern

The Werkself are not on equal terms with FCB, but are not far off, when you look at the points records since the start of the 1996/97 season. Bayer 04 (1,214) are the closest rivals in the Bundesliga in points earned behind Bayern (1,541). The top match could reduce that deficit too.

FC Bayern close to title win

The record champions, as so often, are unstoppable again this term. With a ten-point lead over RB Leipzig and just six games to play, Bayern only need three wins to defend the Bundesliga title. It would be good if the first of those wins comes next weekend.

Most common top match

The Werkself v Bayern fixture is the top pairing in the top game slot. The two teams meet for the twelfth time on a Saturday night this weekend. Since the introduction of the top game only the Bayern v BVB fixture has been played as often. Bayern have only won once at Leverkusen on a Saturday night with four games ending all square.

Lewandowski suspended

Good for the Werkself, bad for Bayern: FCB’s top striker is suspended for this game. The Poland international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the Bundesliga match at Borussia Dortmund last week. That means he won’t pose a threat to the Werkself back four and Bernd Leno.

Fastest ever goal in the Bundesliga

Kevin Volland has good memories of Bayern games. In his time at TSG Hoffenheim he scored a very special goal against FCB on matchday two in the 2015/16 campaign: It was the fastest ever goal in the Bundesliga. He netted the opener after just nine seconds to shave a couple of seconds off Karim Bellarabi’s record set in the game against Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2014.

Völler and Ancelotti: Rivals from the eighties

Rudi Völler and Carlo Ancelotti faced each other in their playing days. Our sporting director and the Bayern coach often played on opposite sides - including the opening game of the European Championships in 1988 between Italy and Germany (1-1) and in games between Völler’s AS Roma and Ancelotti’s AC Milan between 1988 and 1991.

Vidal faces former club

This match sees Arturo Vidal come up against his former club Bayer 04. The Bayern midfielder made his Bundesliga debut playing for the Werkself – that was at the start of the 2007/08 season in an away game at Hamburg SV. Vidal made 116 appearances for Bayer 04, scoring 15 goals and providing 18 assists, before moving onto Juventus in the summer of 2011. Vidal also set a less positive Bundesliga record at the Werkself : The Chile international collected 14 yellow cards in 2009/10. Wendell will find it difficult to catch him up in the current campaign (the Brazil full back has been booked seven times).

Assistant coach at #W11Fantalk

Following the game at around 21.00 CET our assistant coach Xaver Zembrod will be the guest in the Schwadbud to answer your questions at the popular #W11Fantalk. Do you have any questions for Xaver? Then send them in via Facebook or Twitter under the hashtag #W11Fantalk.

Live info on the LIVE App

The Bayer 04 LIVE App, recently voted one the most innovative by a large App blog, again provides loads of information (in German) on Saturday night. Go to>> LIVE-App << to keep up-to-date with the Werkself home game on the road.