
The game will be refereed by Dr Jochen Drees. The 46-year-old doctor will be assisted by Rafael Foltyn and Christian Gittelmann. The fourth official is Florian Heft.
Previous meetings
The Werkself have performed well in the last 15 meetings with Hamburg SV with the games producing eight wins, five draws and just two defeats. Let's hope the positive record continues.
Worst Bundesliga start for HSV
Hamburg have made their worst ever start to a campaign this term with just 13 points from 18 games putting them in the drop zone. For the first time ever, HSV have lost 11 of their first 18 matches.
Poor home form v. strong away form
Hamburg have only collected eight points from eight home games - the worst home form in the Bundesliga. HSV did pick up seven points from the last three home games in 2016. On the other hand, there is the strength of Bayer 04 on the road: The Werkself have scored in all of the last 20 Bundesliga fixtures away from home, scoring 32 goals along the way. That equals the club record from the years 1987 and 1988.
Papadopoulos in an HSV shirt
Kyriakos Papadopoulos has joined Hamburg SV on loan from Bayer 04. The Greek defender could face his former Werkself team-mates in his third outing for Hamburg. "It will definitely be very special playing against former team-mates but I'll put that out of my mind for the 90 minutes," said the 24-year-old defender looking forward to Friday night. Of the current HSV squad, Papadopoulos is the only one to have a positive record against Bayer 04 (three wins, two defeats).
Kießling record against Markus Gisdol
Stefan Kießling also has a good record – against HSV coach Markus Gisdol. Kieß has scored in all six Bundesliga games against the coach with a total of seven strikes making the Werkself an unpopular opponent for Gisdol. He has not lost against any other team in the Bundesliga as often as against Bayer 04.
The Schwadbud is open
Any fans not making the journey north are welcome at the Schwadbud on Friday night from 19.30 CET with the match broadcast live on 20 screens. The popular fan pub enables fans to get together to cheer on the Werkself. Tables can't be reserved so it's a matter of first come, first served.


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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