We didn’t start the New Year well. Of course, we can’t be happy even though we did qualify for the Round of 16 in the cup with the win against Eintracht Frankfurt the week before. One point from the last four Bundesliga games does not live up to our expectations – in spite of strong opponents.
We’re facing one of them today as well. You don’t have to describe Borussia Dortmund’s qualities as they are well-known. But so are our’s. Although we haven’t picked up the points, we have shown a positive trend in the last two games. The first half at Union Berlin was worthy of a top team. The only thing missing was a goal.
We want to do better against BVB. Despite the recent setbacks, a good result could see us move on up. This special season shows that the clubs involved in Europe have to pay the price for a very demanding fixture schedule. That all applies on each and every matchday. The race is a long way from being over.
A word on the events in Berlin on Friday night. It’s always been the case that there can be verbal rough and tumble on the pitch at times. When I was playing, incidents like that were mostly forgotten by the end of the game. Things stayed on the pitch when you shook hands. But these days the players involved and the public are more sensitive. So whoever goes beyond the mark has to live with the consequences. Nevertheless, I believe that a sincere apology means you can deal with an issue in a conciliatory way.
Best wishes, Rudi Völler
St. Pauli are the visitors to Leverkusen for today’s 3.30pm CET kick-off on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga, with some 3,000 fans from Hamburg coming to a sold-out BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show moreBayer 04 take on St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years in front of a sold-out BayArena crowd on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about Pauli’s “structure and dynamic”, as well as options in attack in the absence of Patrik Schick and the final run to the end of the year.
Show moreFor the first time in 13 years, Bayer 04 welcome St. Pauli to the BayArena this Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). The promoted side have shown so far that that are a tough nut to crack, while last week’s first home win of the season proves they have potential in attack. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreBayer 04 Women produced an excellent performance to beat Wolfsburg 1-0 at home on Friday night and knock the She-Wolves off top spot in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as the season reached its halfway stage. Cornelia Kramer got the only goal early in the second half in front of a crowd of 1,510 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The result makes it five straight wins in all competitions for Leverkusen, who go top overnight on 26 points – the best total in the club’s history from the first half of a Bundesliga season – ahead of the DFB Pokal holders with 25.
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