After the spectacular 6-2 victory over Nice in last Thursday night’s Europa League match, the Bayer 04 players face a completely different opponent in the Bundesliga in the shape of FC Augsburg. While Nice are a possession-based side, “that builds their game from the back and takes risks, I expect Augsburg to be more compact at the back. They look to play quick counter-attacking football and prefer to play long balls,” said Bosz at the pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night’s game. “Against Augsburg, we’ll do nothing different and primarily focus on our own game. In terms of the way we play, we did nothing different against Nice than we did in the four Bundesliga games before that,” added the head coach.
After the first Monday match of the season for the Werkself, Bayer 04 could be at the top end of the table – depending on the outcome of the match between Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon that could even mean fourth place. “Of course, we’ll try to win the game tomorrow – and in my opinion we have to do that! As we would obviously prefer to be in fourth position. However, in the end what really matters is where we are on matchday 34 and that won’t be decided tomorrow.”
The statistical omens for an outcome in favour of the Werkself are good ahead of the game: Bayer 04 have not lost any of the 18 clashes to date with Augsburg (12 wins, 6 draws) and the Blacks and Reds have even won the last four encounters without conceding a single goal.
Against Augsburg, Peter Bosz will again have to manage without the skipper Charles Aránguiz, Santiago Arias, Paulinho and Patrik Schick. The latter has returned to individual training with the ball this week. “Patrik is on the right track but it will be a while before he’ll be able to make his comeback,” revealed Bosz.
The coach has said he is “very happy” with Schick’s fellow striker Lucas Alario: “It’s not easy for him in the role he’s had here for a long time. He has played regularly but has not been not a first choice. But over recent weeks he’s shown: He’s there when he’s needed. He does that brilliantly – hats off to him.”
While Alario is hoping for his third start in succession, Bosz has said he will rotate: “If you only have two days off between games then you have to rotate. Some players can cope better with the double fixture weeks and others find it more difficult. I regularly talk to my assistant and fitness coaches. And we try to plan around that.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: DAZN and Werks11 Radio
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the match
Attendance: The match will be played behind closed doors due to the high infection rate in and around Leverkusen
There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
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Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 Women clcoked up a 3-2 win in a friendly against Twente Enschede on Thursday afternoon in the last international break of 2025. In drizzle, Lilla Turanyi (16’), Kristin Kögel (65’) and Paulina Bartz (69’) scored the goals for the Werkself against the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen leaders, who are still unbeaten in the league.
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