“We’ve got the most important thing in the bag,” said the Werkself head coach Hannes Wolf as he briefly looked back at his first outing with the Black and Reds and the three points against the Royal Blues. The Bayer 04 squad had “a very good week of training with lots of sessions” behind them. “The players have really got involved and it was great fun for all of them.” Wolf had good news about the injury situation.
The head coach has the same squad available for the game in Sinsheim as he did against Schalke 04. Daley Sinkgraven is also an option again. The left-back missed the last four games due to a muscle injury. Paulinho is also back in full training following his torn cruciate but Wolf said the clash with TSG “has come too soon after his long injury lay-off .” With the exception of the long-term absentees Santiago Arias, Julian Baumgartlinger, Lars Bender and Timothy Fosu-Mensah plus Paulinho, all the other players are available for the matchday squad.
Wolf has placed great store in the right balance between attack and defence in his work on the training ground. It is down to the whole team regardless of which eleven players start this time. “We have very good options in every position and are happy we can make five substitutions,” said the Werkself head coach. “I hope that carries on after the coronavirus pandemic. It’s just a very good rule for team sport.”
The content of training sessions during the week was influenced by structural considerations as well as playing fast moves. Exactly the right preparation for the away game at Hoffenheim as Wolf declared in his analysis of the forthcoming opponents: “They have high quality, a lot of footballing class and pace in attack. Neither them nor us have a negative approach to this game. Therefore, it will be a very interesting watch.”
As it stands, this will be last Bundesliga fixture on a Monday night. This kick-off time is particularly unpopular with the fans and is set to be scrapped next season with #TSGB04 the last Monday game this term. Wolf: “I think this timing is difficult in normal times. Fans like to travel and they have to go to work or take their children to school the next day. I can really understand the day not being used in the future. In terms of the match tomorrow, I can say: We really want to win the Monday night game.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: DAZN and Werks11 Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game

With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
Show more
FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
Show more
Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
Show more