TSG Hoffenheim have not lost more home games in the Bundesliga against any other club than Bayer 04 (eight as with Bayern Munich). TSG have only let in more goals at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach (28) than against the Werkself (26).
German professional football is paying tribute to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The German Football League (DFL) have recommended a minute's silence at fixtures in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on the current matchday. The victims of the earthquake will also be remembered today ahead of kick-off at the PreZero Arena.
The Werkself goalkeeping coach David Thiel suffered a muscular injury in training and – as with the warm-up for the goalkeepers at today's game including Lukas Hradecky – he will have the support of Jan Conradi (goalkeeper coordinator at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre).
Last weekend's 5-2 defeat at VfL Bochum caused consternation amongst many people involved with TSG. "For some inexplicable reason, we weren't at it for the whole game and this negative run has to finally come to an end," said goalkeeper Oliver Baumann after the tenth match without a win. Hoffenheim stalwart Sebastian Rudy was equally baffled: "I don't know what we've done here. We give away goals, lose challenges and mess up our games." Eight defeats, two draws: That is the sobering return for TSG since the middle of October 2022. With the introduction of experienced winter signings and a new head coach in the dugout, TSG will be looking for a change of fortune in the home game against Bayer 04. Here is the profile of today’s opponents.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Stieler as the referee for today's game in Sinsheim. This will be the 25th match involving the Werkself with the 41-year-old in charge. Stieler will be assisted by Christian Gittelmann and Philipp Hüwe plus Tobias Welz as the VAR.
As usual, anybody unable to be at today's game can tune in to Werkself Radio. The audio broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick and Niko Hartmann. The latest information can also be gained from live text updates to ensure you don't miss any of the action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text updates can be found bayer04.de as well as on the Bayer 04 app .
One of the longest serving players at the Werkself celebrates his birthday today: Jonathan Tah, at Leverkusen since 2015, is now 27 years old. The Hamburg-born defender has made an impressive 283 appearances (8 goals, 11 assists) for Bayer 04 and Tah has played in every Bundesliga match this term. Many happy returns, Jona!
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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