On paper, the chances of the Black and Reds securing victory number 04 of the season are not so bad: The Werkself have only lost three of the 20 league meetings with Hoffenheim – Bayer 04 do not have a similar win ratio against any other team in the league (70 per cent) and an equally high points average (2.25 points). And: Hoffenheim have not lost more often to any other Bundesliga team (14 times, as against Bayern Munich). Moreover: The Werkself have scored 43 goals (conceded 20) in their 20 games against TSG – on average more than against any other club in the Bundesliga. But beware: TSG have won two of their three victories at the BayArena with the last one two years ago in October 2016. That's definitely enough for the time being.
A home win would be really good after the games against Borussia Dortmund and Hannover 96. As it stands, the current return of 04 points from 04 home games is the worst since 04×04 years (2002/03). In addition, the Werkself have already conceded nine goals at the BayArena – there have never been that many in the first 04 home games before now. All the better, that Heiko Herrlich has never lost against Julian Nagelsmann as a coach (one win, one draw). And he has never lost against TSG.
The matchday hashtag #B04TSG has been in much demand at the Bayer 04 HQ this week. The Hoffenheim matchday is a double home matchday for the Black and Reds. Or put another way: Two matches against Hoffenheim. In addition to the Werkself fixture, the Bayer 04 women's team are playing Hoffenheim in the women's Bundesliga on Saturday (kick-off: 12.30 CET, Ulrich Haberland Stadium). The Bayer 04 women will need maximum support from the Bayer 04 fans against the team currently lying in fifth position. For that reason, the west side of the BayArena will be open from midday. And it will certainly be good for us if Hoffenheim go home empty-handed.
The recent upturn for the Werkself is closely associated with one name: Karim Bellarabi. After a difficult season last term the Werkself number 38 has rediscovered his previous strengths. We'll be happy if Karim – as Heiko Herrlich announced – "can show everybody that he still hungry": He has an impressive return from the last four games with six goals and two assists.
Julian Brandt has also been impressive. The Man of the Match from the Gladbach game also made a powerful contribution to the match at Bremen with a goal and an assist. It was also the first goal of the season for the Werkself number 10. And now one for the history books. The 22-year-old has scored at least one goal in all of his six seasons in the Bundesliga – no other Bayer 04 player has achieved that before their 25th birthday (Herbert Wass and Gonzalo Castro). Moreover: After the game Jule will be calling into the Schwadbud: He will be at the #W11Fantalk, where he will be analysing the 90 minutes against Hoffenheim with stadium announcer Tobias Ufer and others. Do you have any questions for the Werkself number 10? If so, submit them via Facebook or Twitter (using the hashtag #W11Fantalk). It starts around 18.00 CET broadcast live on bayer04.de plus on our Facebook page.
At this point it is worth saying tickets are still available for the game. And information for everybody: As with every game there is the official live text commentary on bayer04.de and via our smart phone apps. Anybody wanting the stadium atmosphere with commentary (in German) there is the Werkself Radio. Before, during and after the game there is up-to-date information on the official social media chance of Bayer 04 – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – including line-ups, photos and the most important events during the game. The matchday hashtag is #B04TSG. The target is: Join together for the 04 win of the season. Come on, the Werkself!
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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