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.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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