The Werkself's record of 52 points after 20 matches represents the third-best season for a club in Bundesliga history. Bayern, meanwhile, are the best ever second-placed team at this stage of the campaign with 50 points. Never before have the top two in the Bundesliga had so many points combined after 20 games (102).
Bayer 04 are unbeaten in their last two Bundesliga encounters with FCB, winning 2-1 at home in the 2022/23 Rückrunde and drawing 2-2 in the reverse fixture in Munich this season. That draw was the only league game in which Bayern have dropped points after taking the lead this term.
The visitors come into this just two points behind the Werkself. The gap was temporarily extended to four points following their 1-0 loss at home to SV Werder Bremen last month, but three consecutive wins over 1. FC Union Berlin (1-0), FC Augsburg (3-2) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-1) have seen the German record champions close the gap at the top. That's despite having a number of injury problems lately, with Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies and Konrad Laimer currently sidelined. Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano are set to return to the squad today, though, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a doubt. Read more about our opponents in our in-depth profile.
An important ticket notice for today's Bundesliga home match against Bayern: Bayer 04 is actively taking action against the sale of tickets on unofficial platforms. Some sales on unofficial platforms have already been screened and cancelled. Please do not buy tickets via these channels, as we will not be able to grant access to the stadium. If you have already purchased tickets via these channels, please actively contact Bayer 04 and we will look for a solution together. If you want or need to sell your ticket(s) at short notice, please do so via the Bayer 04 ticket exchange.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Felix Zwayer as the referee for today's fixture. The 42-year-old has taken charge of 31 matches involving the Werkself to date. These have resulted in 16 wins for the Red-and-Blacks, six draws and nine defeats. Zwayer will be assisted by Stefan Lupp and Marco Achmülle, with Benjamin Cortus as the VAR.
As in previous years, there will also be a Berliner promotion at this year's home game during carnival. A total of three doughnuts with liverwurst filling will be mixed in with the normal doughnuts at three different kiosks at different times. The three "winners" who get these can look forward to a Werkself jersey including the name of their favourite player. If you receive one of the liverwurst Berliners, you should simply contact the kiosk where you bought the Berliner afterwards.
Those who want to get in the mood for the evening game against the Munich side with fellow Bayer 04 fans can make their way to the BayArena already in the afternoon. The Schwadbud opens at 15:30 CET and will be showing the Bundesliga conference live.
With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).
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From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen – and back: in March, Bayer 04 travelled with Edmond Tapsoba for a special project in his homeland Burkina Faso. The country where his roots and heart lie. The country where he’s more than a world-class defender: a symbol of hope and a role model for an entire generation. The result is a 45-minute documentary about Tapsoba’s long journey from Africa via Portugal to Leverkusen, which offers extraordinary, one-off and emotional insights.
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Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
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A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
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This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
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