The anniversary-laden clash of the '04' teams is also the last home game of the season for the Bosz Boys. In between the three cheers in and around the BayArena it will be important for the Werkself to remain focused – in the race for a Champions League finish only a win will do against the Royal Blues. After the swashbuckling success against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Werkself are looking to get stuck in again against the team currently 15th in the table and pick up another three points. We bring you 04 facts on #B04S04.
Without doubt, the first half against Eintracht Frankfurt was a performance that will never be forgotten and not just by fans of the Black and Reds. The last time a team scored six goals in one half was 41 years ago – then (in the historic 12-0 win for Gladbach against Dortmund in April 1978) Bayer 04 were still in the second division. The Eintracht game once again underlined a particular strength of the Werkself: Early goals. This season the ball has found the back of the opposition net 24 times in the first 30 minutes – only FC Bayern have scored one more than that. Against Frankfurt it was even 04 goals – a record for the season!
Talking about early birds. The leader of the Werkself flock is Kai Havertz. Our number 29 scored as early as the second minute against Frankfurt – that was the seventh time this season the 19-year-old has opened the scoring for his team – more than any other Bundesliga pro. With all of his nine goals in the second half of the season, Havertz has put the Black and Reds in front. Above all in the closing stages of the campaign, the youngster seems to be revving up: With the exception of the Nürnberg game, the Germany international has scored in each of the last five league games. With a total of five. Hats off to the lad!
On and off the pitch, Julian Brandt is a congenial partner for Kai Havertz. And the Werkself number 10 has also had his foot down over the past few weeks – recently he has not only scored twice in succession but also provided an assist in the Frankfurt game that is his 13th in the current second half of the season. That means the 22-year-old can break a record in the remaining two league games. Since records have been kept, only one player has provided more assists in the second half of a season: in 1994/95 Andreas Herzog laid on 14 goals in a Werder Bremen shirt.
This will be the 70th meeting of the Black and Reds and the Royal Blues in the Bundesliga. The Werkself have won 31 times (20 draws, 18 defeats) – Bayer 04 have only won more often against VfB Stuttgart (36). And from a Schalke perspective, the Werkself are not at all a favourite opponent as the team from Gelsenkirchen only has a poorer points return against Bayern Munich. However, beware! In the last three home games against Schalke, the Werkself have only picked up one point (2015/16:1-1) and most recently there have been two defeats (2017/18:0-2; 2016/17:1-4). It is certainly time for a change. But FC Schalke are now doing well on the road: Since Huub Stevens has returned as coach, the Royal Blues are unbeaten away and the last three away games have produced seven points (1-0 at Hannover, 1-1 at Nürnberg and 4-2 at Dortmund) and that has secured their top-flight status. Schalke have picked up 17 of their 31 points on the road – as a percentage that is the best return of all Bundesliga teams this term (55 per cent). However, the Werkself should not be put off given two home wins in succession. Particularly in view of the fact Huub Stevens has not secured a win in his last three games against the Werkself (as coach at Schalke 04, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim). A 04th time in succession is a desired target for Bayer 04. And it would come at just the right time…
Match information:
Previous result: 2-1 (A)
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberaspach)
Weather forecast: 11 degrees, rain
Live TV broadcaster: Sky
Following the international break, the Bayer 04 women’s team face their next head-to-head clash in the race for a top spot in the Bundesliga. In Saturday’s home match (14:00 CEST), the fourth-placed side host third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is well aware of the great opportunity this presents for his team.
Show more
Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…
Show more
Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.
Show more
Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
Show more
