#B04SCF – Countdown to kick-off

Impressive home record against Freiburg

Bayer 04 have given little away in recent meetings with SC Freiburg at the BayArena. The Werkself have collected ten out of a possible twelve points in the last four home games against the team from the south of Baden with SCF winning just once in their last ten visits to Leverkusen (2-0 in March 2012). The overall stats are also in favour of Bayer 04: In the 34 Bundesliga fixtures between Freiburg and Leverkusen, Werkself have won 15, drawn ten and lost nine.

Volland faces favourite opponents

Bayer 04 striker Kevin Volland is eager to score his first goal of the season for the Werkself on Sunday. The omens are good: In his previous seven games against Freiburg, the 25-year-old has scored five times, the highest number he scored against any of the clubs in Germany's top flight. And our number 31 also netted his previous Bundesliga goal against the team from the Breisgau in the 2-1 defeat away to Freiburg at the end of April.

Herrlich, Mehmedi and the past

For Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich, the meeting with SCF should be a special one: The Werkself coach grew up near Freiburg and played for their youth team for three years from 1986 before signing for Bayer 04 at the age of 17 in 1989 at the start of his professional career. This game also represents a reunion for Admir Mehmedi: The Swiss striker played for SCF from 2013 to 2015 scoring 13 goals in 60 Bundesliga appearances. The only player in the Freiburg squad with a Leverkusen background is Jonas Meffert (2005 to 2014 at Bayer 04) but he is ruled out for Sunday due to a foot injury.

Freiburg: One yellow, two reds

A curious fact: Our opponents Freiburg have committed the least number of fouls in the Bundesliga (30) in the opening three games of the season but are the only side in the top flight to have had two players sent off – the players under Christian Streich have seen more red cards than yellow this term (just one, the lowest number in the league). New signing Yoric Ravet was shown a red card against Borussia Dortmund and therefore misses the game against the Werkself. Midfielder Nicolas Höfler, who was sent off for a second bookable offence at Leipzig on matchday two, is available for selection again.

The Werkself guarantee goals

Recent Werkself matches have provided good entertainment for the spectators. In the last eight Bundesliga matches, Bayer 04 have scored at least once in every game – the best return in the league. However, the opposition teams all scored in those eight games. The last time Leverkusen failed to find the back of the net in a Bundesliga fixture was on 15 April – with a 0-0 draw away to record champions Bayern Munich.

Sven Bender at #W11Fantalk

The #W11Fantalk takes place after the game. For the second time this season, we welcome our new defender Sven Bender to the Schwadbud  following the Freiburg match around 18.00 CET. Do you have any questions for the Werkself new signing? If so, you can put them via Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #W11Fantalk. As usual, the  interview with our number five is available to watch live on Facebook and at bayer04.de.

Fans vote for home end committee

The elections for the home end committee are in full swing: After the 19 candidates introduced themselves in the Schwadbud on Friday night, the Werkself supporters are now asked to cast their vote at the game against Freiburg on Sunday to elect a fan committee of eleven people. Voting booths will be open on Sunday from 12.30 CET at the Stadioneck bar and, after the stadium opens, on the concourses at the BayArena in blocks E, D and B. Votes can also be cast at half-time in the stadium and after the match up to 18.30 CET at the Stadioneck. Please note: The voting process will be made significantly easier if as many fans as possible can download their voting slips beforehand, fill them in and put them in the ballot boxes. Further information on the election and candidates is available at www.kurvenrat-leverkusen.de