Tonight at 22.15 CET, Völler is a guest on the sports programme ‘100% Bundesliga’ on RTL Nitro. Together with the presenter Laura Wontorra and Nitro pundit Steffen Freund, the 59-year-old will discuss Bundesliga matchday 22 and the Europa League home game against FC Porto (Thursday, 20 February, 21.00 CET) at the studio in Cologne. The game against the four-time winners of European cup competitions will be broadcast live on RTL.
The 3-2 away win at Union Berlin was a reason for the Bayer 04 playmaker Kai Havertz to celebrate another achievement: The 20-year-old has clocked up his 50th win in his 107th Bundesliga appearance. That milestone has only been reached at a younger age by Julian Draxler (with Schalke 04 and VfL Wolfsburg) and Christian Pulisic (with Borussia Dortmund). After the game at the Alte Försterei stadium, Havertz was voted man of the match by Bayer 04 fans on Twitter with 47.9 % of the votes.
Head coach Peter Bosz had special praise for his winter signing Edmond Tapsoba (from Vitória Guimaraes) after the Union match: “Edmond did very well against Dortmund. And if you saw him against Union then you could hardly believe he’s only been with us for few weeks.” The reward, on top of the three points, was a place in the kicker Team of the Matchday.
In addition, the sports journal also named Tapsoba as their man of the match: “With his assurance in challenges, good vision and great calm in build-up play,” he was “solid from the start of the game.” The towering defender also saw more of the ball than anybody else with 108 touches over the 90 minutes.
The fine performance of the Burkina Faso international was also recognised on the ARD Sportschau programme with the winter signing credited with a “cool display” and Tapsoba was also named in their team of the matchday. Also named in the line-up: Werkself skipper Lars Bender. He covered the most ground in the game with a total of 12.3 kilometres.
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Another showdown in the race for the Champions League places takes place in Swabia: on Saturday 9 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Werkself visit VfB Stuttgart, who are only behind on goal difference. In his pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about confidence, excitement and mentality.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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