
The Werkself coach Roger Schmidt is well aware of the task ahead: “We need to be on our best form. We have every chance of winning the game at our own ground with our fans behind us – and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
The Werkself head coach recognises the opposition have been though a busy transfer window: “BVB brought in top players after the departure of Hummels, Gündogan and Mkhitaryan. Götze and Schürrle, Guerreiro, Dembelé and Mor are all very impressive new signings and it means Borussia’s attacking game is now even more adaptable.”
Talking about the high-scoring start to the season for Borussia, Schmidt said: “They look really solid and nothing like a team trying to gel.” Therefore, the boss is calling on his players to be “fully focussed and keep the ball far away from our own net. BVB have some very quick forwards. It’s good that we’ve got fast defenders in our ranks.”
It remains to be seen whether the Bayer 04 captain Lars Bender, who picked up a painful flesh wound in the Champions League match at Monaco, and vice-captain Ömer Toprak (bruised knee) will be fit to play. Schmidt: “I can’t give the green light for either of them and we’ll decide if they’re able to play against Dortmund after the final pre-match training session.”
Fan update:
The BayArena is sold out and Bayer 04 would like to point out that rucksacks and large bags are not permitted in the BayArena.


Bayer 04 host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game will be played on Halloween on Saturday, 31 October with the a 15:30 CET kick-off. The latest information on ticket sales.
Show more
Bayer 04 host SC Paderborn at the BayArena on matchday 10 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game against the newly promoted team is on Saturday, 21 November with the a 15:30 CET kick-off. The latest information on ticket sales.
Show more
“School education: a key to success in a sporting career?” – this and other questions relating to dual training in sport, particularly in football, took centre stage at the EDU-DC Conference at the BayArena. The event, held in the Premium Lounge, brought together experts from top clubs and associations from 24 nations, including England, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Representatives from Bayer 04 and TSV Bayer 04 provided insights into the interplay between school and sport at the Werkself.
Show more
Decision made: Germany will submit a bid to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to host the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Munich. The representatives of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) voted for Munich over Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr at their extraordinary meeting in Baden-Baden on Saturday 26 September. Berlin had already withdrawn from the vote a few days earlier.
Show more