“I’m looking forward to one more great moment together with the fans,” Alonso said at Friday’s press conference after he announced he’d be leaving Bayer 04 at the end of the season. The Spaniard will be given an official goodbye from the club ahead of the game following two-and-a-half years in charge. Loanees Nordi Mukiele (Paris Saint-Germain), Mario Hermoso (Roma) and Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa) will also say farewell alongside vice-captain Jonathan Tah. The defender has been with the club since 2015 and has made 400 competitive appearances in red and black to sit sixth on the club’s all-time list.
It’ll be an important fixture for both teams. Dortmund are battling to get into the top four and qualify for the UEFA Champions League, while Leverkusen are aiming to keep on track for the second-best season in the club’s history. They need to win today and in Mainz on the final day to achieve that.
The Werkself come into the game unbeaten in their last seven in the Bundesliga (W4, D3), which is now longest run in the division after Union Berlin’s defeat on Saturday. But Borussia are also unbeaten in six (W5, D1) and boast the best record over the last six matchdays with 16 points. They kick off the game in fifth place, which is their highest position since Matchday 13.
Bayer 04 won the reverse fixture in Dortmund 3-2 and are now out to do the double over BVB for the first time since 2006/07. However, it’s been three games since the Werkself beat Borussia at the BayArena.
Borussia are undoubtedly hitting their stride at the right time. They were stagnating in mid-table a few weeks back, having dropped as low as 11th place. Defending has been an issue, with eight teams having conceded fewer goals. But attacking has been typically fine for BVB with 64 goals scored, trailing only Bayern Munich (93) and Bayer 04 (68) in the pre-Matchday 33 charts. Find out more about our opponents here.
The German FA (DFB) have appointed Deniz Aytekin to oversee Sunday’s game. The 46-year-old has previously taken charge of 39 Bundesliga fixtures involving the Werkself (W17, D9, L13). His assistants are Eduard Beitinger and Dominik Schaal. Tobias Welz is the VAR.
We are taking the Day of German Unity and the anniversary as an opportunity to tell a story that befits the subject - that of Falko Götz. The long-serving player, who currently works in scouting at Bayer 04, spoke to bayer04.de about his youth in the GDR, his escape during an away game in Belgrade and how he identifies with Bayer 04.
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With seven points from five games, Union Berlin have made a decent start to the season. Particularly in the wins against VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, the Irons, who are otherwise known for their strong defence, impressively demonstrated they also have a lot to offer in attack. They will be looking to prove this once again at the BayArena on Saturday, 4 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST, match on Sky and highlights on DAZN). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Derby time in the Rhineland! After a successful September, the Bayer 04 Women are away to FC Köln on Sunday, 4 October. In the Bundesliga match kicking off at 18:30 CEST at the Franz Kremer Stadium (live on MagentaSport and DAZN), coach Roberto Pätzold is counting on the return of a number of players who have been absent through injury.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Axel Tape for the time being.
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A special tribute to a German football legend: The pay-TV channel Sky has dedicated a documentary worth watching to the current Germany sporting director and former Bayer 04 player and sporting director Rudi Völler. In addition to Völler's impressive career, assessments from contemporaries and very private insights, the 90-minute film also covers his many years of commitment to Bayer 04. "Rudi Völler - The one and only" is now available exclusively on Sky and the associated streaming service WOW.
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