
The Werkself start matchday 12 top of the table with 31 out of a possible 33 points and Werder Bremen are currently twelfth. Werder have picked up ten of their eleven points this term at the Weserstadion. That puts them seventh in the home form table while they are seventeenth in the away table. The Werkself have won all away games this season with the exception of the 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich.
The record for Bayer 04 in Bremen over recent years is positive from a Black and Red perspective: The Werkself have earned three wins and two draws in the last five visits to the Weserstadion. The last away defeat was in October 2016 (1-2).
After three games without defeat, with Werder Bremen picking up five points, the team have made up ground in the table. The Green and Whites were fourteenth on matchday eight just two points above the relegation spots. The team led by coach Ole Werner are now in eleventh place after the 2-0 win against Union Berlin and the two 2-2 draws away to VfL Wolfsburg and at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. The gap to seventeenth place is now five points. Not yet comfortable but nevertheless a small cushion. Further information on today's opponents can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
Ahead of today's game in the Hanseatic city, Bayer 04 have taken up the full allocation of away tickets. A total of 4,000 Bayer 04 fans are expected to get behind the Werkself in Bremen. Away tickets will not be on sale at the Weserstadion.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Martin Petersen as today's match referee. The 38-year-old referee has previously been in charge of six games involving the Werkself with an outcome of three wins, one draw and two defeats. Petersen will be assisted by Alexander Sather and Robert Wessel with Daniel Schlager in action as the VAR.
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 Niko Hartmann and Cedric Pick. 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.

Bayer 04 will round off their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League side Newcastle United. The match against the side featuring German internationals Malik Thiaw and Nick Woltemade will take place on Saturday 15 August (kick-off: 4 pm German time/3 pm local time) at St James’ Park. Werkself-TV will stream the match live in full and free of charge after logging in from 3.50 pm...

After the 2-1 defeat at Premier League club Nottingham Forest the night before, it was straight back to work for the Werkself at midday on Thursday with an intensive training session in hot temperatures at the hosts' training ground.
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The Werkself suffered a first defeat in the current pre-season fixtures. The sixth friendly of the summer ended in 2-1 reverse at Premier League Nottingham Forest. The English side took an early lead (4’) but Patrik Schick levelled just after the half-hour mark (32’). Nothing much happened after that, and the match looked set to end in a draw. However, the hosts managed to score the winning goal late on (90').
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH has taken note of the final, non-binding statement issued by the Bundeskartellamt regarding the 50+1 rule and its application, and will now examine it carefully.
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