Historic milestone: The Werkself not only play the final game of the 2022/23 season today but it also Bundesliga match 1,500 for Bayer 04. To mark this event, the Werkself will run out in a special edition of the current home shirt that is available to buy now. Exclusive sale to members started yesterday Friday 26 May. Further information on the special edition shirt can be found HERE.
The last time the Werkself lost in Bochum was in a 2-0 defeat in March 2008 and the following seven away games at VfL have resulted in three wins and four draws.
In addition, Bochum have not won on the final matchday in the last four Bundesliga seasons (one draw, three defeats) – of the current Bundesliga clubs only Hertha Berlin have a longer negative run on the final matchday (nine). The Werkself have won ten of their last twelve games on the final day of the season (two defeats).
Joy and frustration were 24 hours apart for VfL Bochum last weekend. The late equaliser from Keven Schlotterbeck away to Hertha Berlin on Saturday afternoon ensured huge euphoria amongst the 12,000 travelling Bochum fans. The goal in the fourth minute of added time saw VfL retain fifteenth place enabling them to maintain the lead over Schalke who levelled late in the game in a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Seventeenth-placed VfB Stuttgart needed to drop points in their Sunday match away to Mainz 05 for the situation on the final matchday to be more comfortable. For updates on the outcome of the clash with the Swabians and how it looks for the personnel at VfL Bochum check out lowdown on our next opponents.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Welz as the referee for the match against VfL Bochum. The 45-year-old has previously been in charge of 17 games involving the Werkself (five wins, four draws, eight defeats). His assistants are Robert Kempter and Jonas Weickenmeier with Benjamin Brand in action as the VAR official.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app – just log on.
The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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