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23.09.2016Bundesliga

#M05B04 – Countdown to kick-off

The next challenge also presents the next opportunity to turn a corner: "A win in this situation would make it easier for us," said coach Roger Schmidt ahead of the fifth Bundesliga match of the season at FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Read on for the latest info on the clash at the Opel Arena.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

The match kicks off at 15.30 CET with referee Günter Perl from Pullach in charge of proceedings.

All square in the record books

Mainz and Leverkusen have met 20 times in the Bundesliga and the record could not be more equal: In addition to four draws, each team has won eight games. Only Freiburg and Nürnberg have also beaten Mainz eight times in the top-flight.

Lead proves decisive

Whenever the Werkself take the lead in games between M05 and B04 the points are almost as good a secured: In the 20 Bundesliga games between the two clubs the Werkself have led 10 times with those matches ending in eight victories and two draws.

Mainz on their marks

For the first time under coach Martin Schmidt Mainz 05 have not won in five competitive games at home (one defeat plus four draws).

On the verge of a hat-trick?

Bayer 04 are in a position to suffer three competitive defeats on the road in succession for the first time in four and a half years - the last time that happened was in March 2012 in the final three away games under coach Robin Dutt.

Brandt's impressive record

Julian Brandt has been directly involved in ten goals in his last eleven Bundesliga outings (six goals, four assists). In 2015/16 the Werkself won all nine league games where the Germany international found the back of the net.

Chicha likes to score against Mainz

Chicharito scored home and away against Mainz last season. The team from Rhine-Hesse could be the first Bundesliga side to concede three times to the Mexican in succession.

The man for the last 15 minutes

Joel Pohjanpalo has scored all four of his Bundesliga goals in the final 15 minutes of games (to be more exact from the 79th minute). No club in the Bundesliga have scored more goals in the last 15 minutes in the 2016/17 season than Bayer 04.

Four made the switch

Julian Baumgartlinger joined Bayer 04 in the summer after five years at Mainz. The Austrian, who was the FSV captain last season, played 124 Bundesliga games for Mainz scoring two goals and providing four assists along the way. Levin Öztunali (15 Bundesliga games for Bayer 04) and André Ramalho (19 Bundesliga games for the Werkself) went the opposite way in the summer. The former Leverkusen defender Giulio Donati (43 Bundesliga games for Bayer 04) joined FSV in January 2015.

LIVE action via the LIVE app

The Bayer 04 LIVE APP, recently nominated one of the most innovative apps on a popular App blog, will be packed full of exclusive information (in German) on Bayer 04 on Saturday. You can download it now to keep up-to-date with the action at Werkself while you are on the move.>> bit.ly/b04live .The social networks will be busy at #M05B04.

Get on the bus in Mainz

The new Bayer 04 bus, unveiled two weeks ago, is a new meeting point for Werkself fans. On Saturday the red double-decker bus will be in Mainz serving as a fan shop and information point for the Bayer 04 Club.

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

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