"We have to completely focus on Hoffenheim. I said to my players before the draw yesterday that the Champions League campaign only starts in three weeks time. The only thing that counts now is the Hoffenheim game," said Peter Bosz looking to avoid being distracted by talk about the attractive opponents in Europe's premier club competition. Indeed he expressed the opposite view at the press conference held in the media centre at the BayArena shortly before the final training session. The head coach wanted to set a good example. "When I go to the dressing room, I won't talk about the draw but just about Hoffenheim," said Bosz.
For a good reason: The Black and Reds have made a perfect start to the 57th Bundesliga season with two wins in two games. "We have to carry on," demanded the 55-year-old in looking for another improvement in performance against the team that finished ninth last season. "We improved week by week in the pre-season. Now I've seen that in the competitive matches: Our game against Paderborn was better than the one against Aachen. And I hope our game against Hoffenheim will be better than the last one against Düsseldorf," said the Dutchman who can look back at an impressive seven wins and one draw in the last eight games over the two seasons.
A third win in succession beckons ahead of the forthcoming international break. Peter Bosz and his coaching staff have almost a full squad to choose from. The only absentee for the game against TSG is Joel Pohjanpalo who has only just started rehab training after the reaction in his right foot.
Lars Bender and Co. did not perform well in the last outing against the team from Sinsheim: Last season there were two 4-1 defeats against a TSG side that has seen major changes to the squad over the summer. Back then, Kerem Demirbay and Nadiem Amiri were playing for the Blue and Whites and now, after their move to Leverkusen in the summer, they are set for the first game against the former club. In addition to the former Hoffenheim player Kevin Volland and assistant coach Xaver Zembrod, Saturday brings a reunion for Peter Bosz with a former colleague. Alfred Schreuder, who took over the helm from Julian Nagelsmann, played alongside the Werkself head coach in the Netherlands for Feyenoord (1991 to 1993) as well as NAC Breda (1999). "He was a very intelligent player and you can see that now as a coach too: He loves tactics – his teams have always played good football. With him you can really see that there is an idea behind everything and that he is a coach who develops his players and his team," said Bosz in praising his nine-year younger fellow countryman who was able to celebrate his first win in Germany's top flight last weekend with a last-minute 3-2 victory over Werder Bremen. TSG lost 1-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first league game of the season..
Match information
Recent results: 1-4 (H), 1-4 (A)
Weather forecast: 32 degrees, sunny
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
Live TV broadcaster: Sky Sport
After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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There was a successful end to the women's internationals with Werkself players Carlotta Wamser and Cornelia Kramer qualifying for the 2027 World Cup finals in Brazil. A third Leverkusen player is still in with a chance of joining them. The Germany U23 players also experienced success in their last two international friendlies of the season.
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Traveling to North America for the World Cup this summer to see your favorite Bayer 04 players? Here’s a quick cheat sheet with thumbnail portraits and insider tips for each city from a local expert, so you can make the most of your visit and activities beyond the game!
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A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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