#D98B04: Countdown to kick-off
The Werkself are away to SV Darmstadt 98 tonight in a 20.00 CET kick-off at the Jonathan Heimes Stadium. The game will be refereed by Benjamin Brand (Unterspiesheim). Read on for the stats and facts on #D98B04:
Four wins for the Werkself
It's a long time since the Werkself and the Lilies first played each other in the 1980s. Since the 1981/82 season, the two clubs had a long wait for the next encounter in the league – until Darmstadt succeeded in reaching the top flight two years ago. There have been five previous meetings in the Bundesliga with the Werkself winning four and Darmstadt one.
One goal a rarity
Up to now, the games against the Lilies have been good for Leverkusen: In all the victories over Darmstadt, the Werkself have always found the back of the net at least twice and sometimes it's been three. As in the reverse fixture this season when Hakan Calhanoglu, Julian Brandt and Charles Aránguiz scored in a 3-2 win.
Lilies struggling
Darmstadt's situation does not inspire much hope. They are currently 14 points off safety – no other club in the history of the Bundesliga has made up such a large gap. Even if the Lilies win every game starting on Wednesday they would only reach a total of 39 points. That would not be enough to guarantee survival in the top flight.
Milestones in view
This could be a special game for two players: Ahead of the game against the Lilies, Kevin Volland is set to make his 150th appearance in the Bundesliga and Ömer Toprak is one game away from 150 appearances for Bayer 04. He also played 38 games in the top flight for SC Freiburg before joining Leverkusen.
Sidney Sam meets former club
There will be a reunion at Böllenfalltor for Sidney Sam who played for Bayer 04 from 2010 to 2014. The 29-year-old made 92 appearances for Bayer 04. Behind Stefan Kießling and Gonzalo Castro, Sam was the third-best goalscorer/provider during his time at the Werkself where he made his debut for Germany. Sam joined the Lilies at the start of the year on loan from Schalke 04 to the end of the season.
Friends reunited
Kevin Volland, Admir Mehmedi and Ramazan Özcan meet up with familiar faces at tonight's match. Volland and Darmstadt’s Sven Schipplock played together at TSG Hoffenheim as did Özcan and the Lilies captain Aytac Sulu. Mehmedi and Immanuel Höhn played together at SC Freiburg.
Two pros suspended
Both sides are missing a number of players. Sandro Sirigu is suspended for Darmstadt as is Charles Aránguiz for Leverkusen. Sirigu was shown two yellow cards against Leipzig at the weekend and Aránguiz picked up his fifth caution.
Live broadcast at the Schwadbud
The Schwadbud opens its doors again tonight for fans who have not travelled to Darmstadt. From 19.00 CET, Werkself fans will have the chance to meet up in the popular fan pub and cheer on the team. Tables cannot be reserved so it's worth turning up early.
Related News
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026
Big crowd at shirt sale for a good cause with Tapsoba, Maza and Kofane - last chance at home matchday
This special event showed once again how strong Bayer 04 are as a team: As part of ‘BarmeniaGothaer gives joy’, the Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane supported the sale of individually designed T-shirts for a good cause at the Fanwelt on Thursday. Several hundred fans came to take part in the charity campaign. Leverkusen's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer donated the proceeds to the Fondation Edmond Tapsoba, which helps people in Tapsoba's home country of Burkina Faso in their challenging everyday lives.
Show more
Women - 01.05.2026
Bayer 04 Women on hunt for records in Essen
With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).
Show more
Bayer 04 - 01.05.2026
Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s May highlights
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 personalised 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…
Show more
Bayer 04 - 29.04.2026
‘Fierté Burkinabè’ documentary – visiting Edmond Tapsoba at home in Burkina Faso
From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen – and back: in March, Bayer 04 travelled with Edmond Tapsoba for a special project in his homeland Burkina Faso. The country where his roots and heart lie. The country where he’s more than a world-class defender: a symbol of hope and a role model for an entire generation. The result is a 45-minute documentary about Tapsoba’s long journey from Africa via Portugal to Leverkusen, which offers extraordinary, one-off and emotional insights.
Show more
Bayer 04 - 29.04.2026
Contract until 2031: Defensive ace Edmond Tapsoba commits long-term to Bayer 04
Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
Show more
