Since TSG were promoted to the Bundesliga for the 2008/09 season, the Werkself have not won more games against an opponent than they have against Hoffenheim (18 times, as against VfB Stuttgart).
While Bayer 04 clocked up win number 22 on Bundesliga matchday 26 to set a new club record, TSG have lost six of their last 12 Bundesliga fixtures. Over that period, the Werkself picked up 34 out of a possible 36 points and that is three times as many as Hoffenheim (10). In addition, the Hoffenheim defence has proved to be fallible this season: TSG have conceded 50 goals in 26 games. Only bottom-of-the-table SV Darmstadt 98 (65) and VfL Bochum (54) have let in more goals.
TSG have had more success on the road: Hoffenheim are one of the few clubs in the league to pick up more points away (20) than at home (13).
Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann said his team “stood no chance” in the 3-0 defeat TSG against Stuttgart before the international break. That was the second defeat in succession for Hoffenheim after a 3-1 reverse against Eintracht Frankfurt. Once again the team failed to pick up a point against a side in the bottom third of the table. TSG have only picked up six points so far in the nine games against top six clubs in the league. Nevertheless, Hoffenheim are in a secure position currently lying eighth in the table. The reasons for that and the TSG team news can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Deniz Aytekin as the referee. The 45-year-old has been in charge of 38 games involving the Werkself so far with 16 wins, nine draws and 13 defeats for the Black and Reds – Aytekin has not refereed any other club in the Bundesliga as often as Bayer 04. His assistants today are Christian Dietz and Eduard Beitinger with Katrin Rafalski in action as the VAR.
Due to roadworks on Robert-Blum-Straße / Im Eisholz there will be delays getting to and from the match. Traffic on Robert-Blum-Straße will be diverted via temporary traffic lights. Montessoriweg will be a one-way street. We advise fans to leave in good time to get to the BayArena we recommend using the ÖPNV public transport, the shuttle bus service and bicycles. The roadworks are due to the last to 5 April.
Do a good turn at Werkself home games: From today's match to the end of the season, money raised from deposit donations will go to the Wildpark Reuschenberg. Every deposits return for drinks containers brings a donation of two euros. Collection bins are sited on the bottom tier near the exits and in the North Stand also opposite Blocks SD3/D3.
The donation campaign, which is very popular with Bayer 04 fans, has run from 2019 in support of numerous community projects and organisations in and around Leverkusen. This season has seen donations to the group supporting the homeless ‘Kältegang Leverkusen’ and also for the first time the animal protection charity ‘Tierschutz Leverkusen e.V.’. Over 21,000 drinks containers have been collected this season.
Bayer 04 thanks all fans who support this campaign today and in the future. Heartfelt gratitude also comes from those who benefit from your generosity.
Anyone wanting to discover the latest information ahead of today’s league encounter can take a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday magazine, that includes key facts and stats on the match, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively it is available free online.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick and the German comedian Matze Knop. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.
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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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