"The team didn't just produce a brilliant tactical performance with a man down at Stuttgart. The spirit, the mentality – we have positive memories of that game," said Gerardo Seoane looking back at the 3-1 win at VfB. The Werkself played with ten men for an hour in last Sunday's match after Robert Andrich was sent off.
It was an energy-sapping and intensive clash for Bayer 04 at Stuttgart. However, in contrast to the next few weeks, there was no game in the Europa League or the DFB Cup so Patrik Schick and Co. were able to recover in their own time. That means Seoane has all the players available from the squad for the Stuttgart game with the exception of the suspended Andrich.
Edmond Tapsoba, who has been back on the training ground for the past few days, is still sidelined along with Julian Baumgartlinger, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Exequiel Palacios and goalkeeper Niklas Lomb.
The biggest plus for the visitors from Mainz this season is their strength in defence: The team under head coach Bo Svensson have only conceded two goals – the least in the league along with VfL Wolfsburg. It is clear given the stats that a considered approach will be required to get on the scoreboard. Seoane: "We face the challenge of finding solutions to their compact defending to be able to create good chances. It's down to us from the start to produce high intensity and use the width of the pitch to pull their defence apart."
A look at the table, with Mainz 05 level on points with the Werkself in fifth place, is only a "snapshot" for the Swiss boss. More significant are the impressive performances by the next opponents – and that already started at the start of the second half of last term (fifth place in the second half of the season table).
There is no doubt that Lukas Hradecky and Co. face a tricky game against Mainz but they can again count on the support of 15,000 fans. There will be 455 away fans from Mainz. There are still a few remaining tickets for Bayer 04 fans making a late decision to attend the game.
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
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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