Back
26.06.2020Bundesliga

Bosz calls for full focus on own game

The final Bundesliga fixture of this exceptional season is here: Fifth-placed Bayer 04 entertain FSV Mainz 05 at the BayArena tomorrow (kick-off: 15.30 CET). A fourth-place finish and qualification for the Champions League requires the assistance of Hertha Berlin at Borussia Mönchengladbach. But head coach Peter Bosz made his view clear ahead of the final matchday in the top-flight: Complete concentration on our own game.

Ahead of the clash with the already safe Mainz, the Dutchman declared: "We don't need to think about what's happening on the pitch at Gladbach. We have to win our game. And then we'll see if that's enough in the end."

In the best-case scenario, the Werkself will be happy to repeat the drama of the final matchday of the 2018/19 league campaign: Back then, the Black and Reds qualified for the Champions League with an emphatic 5-1 win against Hertha Berlin and a 2-0 defeat for Gladbach against Borussia Dortmund. "We showed then what is possible," said Bosz.

Dragovic serving one-match ban

Good news: Ahead of the game with Mainz, the 56-year-old coach can select his team from his whole squad with the exception of Aleksandar Dragovic who is currently serving a one-match ban. Karim Bellarabi and captain Lars Bender returned to training with the team on Friday following injury. Bosz explained: "We'll see who plays tomorrow. Our only interest is definitely winning the match."

Bosz on Mainz

The team coached by Achim Beierlorzer have already secured their top-flight status with two recent wins at Dortmund (2-0) and fellow relegation candidates Werder Bremen (3-1). Bosz does not believe Mainz will let the season end with a whimper. The Werkself coach commenting on tomorrow's opponents: "They played very well against us in our narrow win earlier in the season (1-0 ed.). Mainz have some interesting players and a good team."

Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the game

sky_live_300x250_b04.jpg

Related News

Carolin Simon
Women - 21.08.2026

Women: Carolin Simon appointed as new captain

Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.

Show more
SV Wehen Wiesbaden
DFB-Pokal - 20.08.2026

Our next opponents: Turn the ultimate challenge into an opportunity

SV Wehen Wiesbaden undoubtedly envisaged a different start to the new season. After two matchdays, the Hessen side currently sit bottom of the Liga 3 table. On Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), SVWW host the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Pokal at their home ground, the BRITA Arena. It was there, in this very competition a year ago, that the club almost pulled off a massive upset. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Farid Alfa-Ruprecht
Bayer 04 - 20.08.2026

Bayer 04 loan Alfa-Ruprecht to Hertha Berlin

Farid Alfa-Ruprecht is going out on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Bundesliga 2 side Hertha Berlin. The pacy winger will be at the Berlin club for one year.

Show more
Ezequiel Fernández und Victor Boniface im Training
Bayer 04 - 18.08.2026

Werkself begin final week of pre-season with open session – Fernández: 'Something's growing together here'

Heading towards the competitive start of the 2026/27 season together: the Werkself kicked off preparations for the DFB Pokal clash at third-tier SV Wehen Wiesbaden with an open session in front of their fans on Tuesday morning. Before the first-round tie on Saturday 22 August at 13:00 CEST - for which the away section is already sold out - there'll be one more open session on Thursday from 11:00 CEST, when fans have another chance to watch head coach Carles Martínez's men at work.

Show more