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.
Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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