#M05B04 -Countdown to kick-off

Balanced record
The Werkself and Mainz 05 have met 22 times in the Bundesliga – and the record could not be more evenly balanced. With four draws both sides have won nine games each to date. And there is no winner when you look at goal scored: Both Bayer 04 and Mainz have found the back of the net 32 times. And it can come as no surprise that the record in the Palatinate is also evenly balanced: There has been one draw and five victories each for the two teams.

Advantage for the Werkself?
In spite of the overall record it is possible to identify an advantage for Bayer 04: There were two away wins in games against FSV last season: Leverkusen came back from 2-0 down in the first match and Mainz took three points from the BayArena with a 2-0 win in the return game. In addition, the Werkself have won three of the last four away games at Mainz with FSV winning the other.

Goals guaranteed
With just one exception (0-0 in Leverkusen) there has always been at least one goal in the 22 Bundesliga meetings and the fans have witnessed 11 goals in the past three encounters. In addition: The Werkself have scored in each of the last seven league matches – the longest run in 2017. 

Friends reunited

FSV new signing Rene Adler spent 12 years at Leverkusen (2000 to 2012). Adler made 138 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer 04. The goalkeeper could celebrate victory number 100 in his Bundesliga career in the match against his old club. 

Adler's 12 years at Leverkusen saw him make his international debut for Germany and his impressive performances in the league and national team made in first choice for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, he missed the tournament through injury and the number two Manuel Neuer took his place between the posts. Finally, Adler lost his place at Leverkusen to Bernd Leno and he moved on to Hamburg SV in 2012/13. 
Levin Öztunali moved from HSV to Leverkusen in 2013 and stayed to 20162 (on loan at Werder Bremen for the last season and a half). He made 15 Bundesliga appearances for the Werkself.
Giulio Donati played 43 Bundesliga games for Leverkusen between the summer of 2013 and January 2016.  
Baumgartlinger and Ramalho return to old stomping ground
Julian Baumgartlinger played for Mainz between 2011 and 2016 (124 Bundesliga games, two goals) and was the captain at FSV in 2015/16.
Andre Ramalho was on loan at Mainz in 2016/17 (18 Bundesliga games)
Not at Mainz? Then get down to the Schwadbud!