Back
12.03.2023Bayer 04

News in brief ahead of #SVWB04: Record favours the Black and Reds – Aytekin is the ref

Back to Bundesliga action: Following the 2-0 home win against Ferencváros in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Europa League, the Werkself are away to Werder Bremen today Sunday 12 March (kick-off: 17.30 CET). The latest information on the game on matchday 24...
crop_20220917_NB_B04_gegen_Werder_Bremen_50835.jpg

#SVWB04 – match facts

Werder Bremen have only won one of their last eleven games against the Werkself (six draws, four defeats): in a 3-1 victory on Bundesliga matchday 26 in the 2018/19 season. The last time Werder won the fixture at home was in October 2016 (2-1) and since then they have not beaten Bayer 04 in four games on their own turf (two draws, two defeats).

Andrich and Palacios available again

Werkself midfielders Robert Andrich and Exequiel Palacios are back in the squad under head coach Xabi Alonso after missing the Europa League Round of 16 first leg against Ferencváros due to suspension. Holding midfielder Charles Aránguiz is again sidelined through injury.

Werkself player Andrich this week took over the annual patronage of the OSTERMANN Birkenberg soccer school supported by Sportbund Leverkusen e.V.

 

crop_20230301_FS_Andrich_Fussballschule_50221.jpg
Photo: Robert Andrich with Thomas Edelmann (Sportbund Leverkusen) and Karlheinz Reheußer (manager of the Leverkusen furniture store Ostermann, main sponsor of the Birkenberg soccer school).

focus on Werder bremen

There was great frustration in the Werder camp last weekend after the 2-1 defeat away to FC Augsburg. The defeat being completely avoidable was the prevailing view for the Green and Whites. "We clearly beat ourselves," said captain Marco Friedl. Coach Ole Werner raised statistics as proof of this statement and they all favoured Werder Bremen: 22 to 9 shots on goal, 81% pass completion, 62% possession – but what use is that if the result is not right in the end. Two things particularly stand out in the error analysis: "Too many chances were squandered" (Mitchell Weiser) and "we weren’t alert enough in crucial situations" (Niklas Schmidt). More on personnel, performance and problems for Werder Bremen in the lowdown on our next opponents.

Aytekin is the ref

The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Deniz Aytekin as the match referee for the game in Bremen. This will be the 35th game involving the Werkself with the 44 year-old in charge. Aytekin will be assisted by Christian Dietz and Eduard Beitinger with Pascal Müller in action as the VAR official.

Werkself Radio and Live text updates

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 Cedric Pick and Niko Hartmann. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss anything in the game. Both Werkself Radio and the live text updates can be found at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app – tune in.

 

Related News

crop_imago1071437261.jpg
Bayer 04 - 18.01.2026

AFCON blog: Senegal win the tournament

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...

Show more
Mark Flekken
Bayer 04 - 18.01.2026

Flekken and Tella out injured

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.

Show more
Gruppenfoto vor dem Hotel
Women - 18.01.2026

‘Focus on attacking moves’: Women finish winter training camp in the Algarve

After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.

Show more
Werkself nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 18.01.2026

Werkself review #TSGB04: ‘Every opportunity to be more effective’

"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.

Show more
Werkself edged out 1-0 at Hoffenheim | 18th matchday
Werkself-TV - 17.01.2026

TV highlights of 0-1 loss at TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 0-1 loss at TSG Hoffenheim on Matchday 18 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...

Show more