“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.
The international break produced a full range of emotions for Bayer 04’s women. While four Leverkusen players were in play-off action to try and reach the World Cup, including two important goals, there were others in friendly action. Here’s a round-up of all the results…
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The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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Intercultural exchange: a youth team from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, visited Leverkusen in the last few days. The players and staff from AD DUHA FC enjoyed a varied programme including training, a friendly - and a very special experience on Saturday afternoon.
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There will be a change at the top of the Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH shareholder committee at the end of the year, with Werner Wenning stepping down from the Bundesliga club's control committee on 31 December 2026. Wolfgang Nickl, who has been part of the committee since March of this year, will take over the chairmanship on 1 January 2027.
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