"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
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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