#B04FCI – Countdown to kick-off

The match referee is Frank Willenborg from Osnabrück. The secondary school teacher will be assisted on the sidelines by Sven Jablonski and Christoph Bornhorst. Florian Heft is the fourth official.

Last meeting

The Werkself and FCI have met twice in the top flight. Bayer 04 came out on top in both games: There was a 1-0 away win and a 3-2 victory in the return match at the BayArena in the second half of the season.

Good record against teams in the drop zone

The Werkself have not lost any of the past 15 home games against a team in the bottom two - eleven wins and four draws is the record to date. And Bayer 04 have not conceded in the previous four of those games.

Sunday success

Bayer 04 have won the last four Sunday fixtures in the Bundesliga without conceding. The last time the Werkself let in a goal on a Sunday was in a 3-1 defeat at Mainz in February 2016. Stefan Kießling loves playing on a Sunday: At Schalke he scored goal number 32 in Sunday game in the Bundesliga taking him past Ailton (31) to be the record goalscorer in the Bundesliga on that day of the week. The club legend is a doubt ahead of this weekend’s game due to a muscle problem.

Friends reunited

Goalkeeper Rambo Özcan and right back Danny da Costa were promoted to the Bundesliga last season with FC Ingolstadt and they moved on to the Werkself in the summer of 2016 after securing top-flight status fir FCI. Sunday will be the first time the duo have been reunited with their former team-mates.

Christmas stalls

The Bayer 04 Christmas Market at the BayArena is open again for this fixture with three stalls in areas F1, B1 and B4. Warming hot drinks and savoury treats are on offer.

#W11Fantalk with Kevin Kampl

Kevin Kampl will answer supporters’ questions just after the game on Sunday at about 20.00 CET at the #W11Fantalk in the Schwadbud. You can put your questions now via Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #W11Fantalk.

Fan club celebration

They are pioneers for all Bayer 04 fan clubs: During the half-time break on Sunday, CEO Michael Schade and sporting director Rudi Völler will mark the 40th anniversary of the First Fanclub 1976 Leverkusen – as well as the 20 years since the founding of the Djangos fan club.