#B04RBL - Facts and stats

Time for a first

Bayer 04 have played 46 teams in the Bundesliga so far and have only failed to beat Leipzig. Both matches were lost last season with a 3-2 defeat at the BayArena and 1-0 reverse in Saxony. So it could be third time lucky. At the same time, the Werkself are unbeaten in six Bundesliga fixtures (three wins, three draws). The last time there was a run like that was at the end of the 2015/16 season (eight games). 

THIRD MAN ON THE BENCH

This is the third time in the league the Black and Reds have played Leipzig – and for the third time there is a different coach on the Bayer 04 bench: Roger Schmidt and Tayfun Korkut are now followed by Heiko Herrlich. The last home defeat for Leverkusen was over six months ago on 28 April with the game against Schalke ending 4-1 in favour of the visitors. There have been three wins and two draws in the Bundesliga this term plus a 4-1 victory over Union Berlin in the DFB Cup.

Kevin is on song

Kevin Volland scored his sixth goal of the season at Augsburg and has now scored as often as in the whole of last season in 23 games. Six goals after 11 games represent a new personal Bundesliga record for the former Hoffenheim striker.

RB good at fighting back

Leipzig have won five of their last six Bundesliga games and are the most successful team over that period (15 points ahead of Bayern and 14 and Bayer 04 on 12). RB have won three games this season after being behind and no other team in the Bundesliga can match that. The nine points won from losing positions are more than in the whole of last term (eight).

Goals guaranteed for 16 games

The Werkself have scored all of their last nine Bundesliga goals in the second 45 minutes of those games. The last 16 Bundesliga matches have seen the Werkself score at least once and that is by far the longest run in the league and the longest for Bayer 04 since March to September in 2014 (also 16 games).

Kampl returns to the BayArena

Kevin Kampl returns to the BayArena for the first time since his move to Leipzig on 31 August. "Of course, it's a special game for me as I know everybody working at Bayer 04," said the midfielder who started his career with the Werkself at the age of 13 with two years playing for the first team. The Solingen-born pro assesses the clash at his old stomping ground as follows: "I think it will be a really exciting game."

Leipzig with international power

A number of Leipzig players come to Leverkusen on the back of successful international appearances. Yussuf Poulsen and Denmark beat Ireland 5-1 in the play-offs to book a place at the World Cup in Russia as did Emil Forsberg with Sweden who knocked out the former giants Italy. Timo Werner (goalscorer for Germany in the 2-2 draw with France), Marcel Halstenberg (international debut for Germany against England) and Marcel Sabitzer (goalscorer for Austria in the 2-1 win against Uruguay) have also gained confidence on the international stage.

Extra time with Kai Havertz

It's now an established tradition after Werkself home games in the Bundesliga for a Bayer 04 pro to call into the Schwadbud after the game at the BayArena to discuss events on the pitch with stadium announcer Tobias Ufer, fan liaison officer Rüdiger Vollborn or Frank Linde plus a supporter. This time the Werkself youngster Kai Havertz is the star guest at the #W11Fantalk and he will no doubt do a fine job in analysing the meeting with last season's runners-up. If you have any questions for Kai, please send them in via Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #W11Fantalk. It kicks off at 18.00 CET.