Head coach Peter Bosz celebrates his 57th birthday today. His Werkself team are away to Bundesliga newcomers Arminia Bielefeld on matchday eight (kick-off: 15.30 CET – live on Sky and on Werks11 Radio at bayer04.de or on the app) – and the winning run could be extended on his birthday on the back of four matches won in succession. We hope the coach has two reasons to celebrate. Three points, many happy returns and, above all, good health.
The Werkself game against Arminia will be refereed by Dr. Felix Brych. The 45-year-old lawyer from Munich has already officiated 36 Bayer 04 games, producing 53 yellow cards and three reds along the way. Under this referee, the Werkself have won 21 games, drawn five and lost ten. Brych will be assisted by Mark Borsch and Stefan Lupp. Sven Jablonski is the fourth official. Robert Hartmann will be in the studio in Cologne in his role as the VAR referee and he will be assisted by Michael Emmer.
A little reminder: Rudi Völler will be joining Sky pundit Dietmar 'Didi' Hamann at 11.30 CET on Sunday morning on Sky 90 for the Unibet football debate. In addition to events on the pitch in Saturday's Bundesliga games, there will also be discussion of the 6-0 defeat for Germany against Spain. Also involved in the debate is journalist Philipp Selldorf (Süddeutsche Zeitung). The broadcast is on Sky Sport News and is freely available as well as on a live stream at skysport.de.
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
Show more