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
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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