Back
23.02.2024Bundesliga

Matchday news #B04M05: Sold-out BayArena for themed matchday

This evening, Friday 23 February (kick-off 20:30 CET), Bayer 04 open Bundesliga Matchday 23 against 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the sold-out BayArena. The works club is using the fixture to hold its second Bayer Sports Family Matchday of this season. The matchday news has everything you need to know.
crop_20240209_JS_Stadionaufnahmen_0018.jpg

#B04M05 – match facts

Mainz 05 triumphed in this fixture last season with a 3-2 win at the BayArena. For the Black-and-Reds it was one of only three home league defeats in total under Xabi Alonso, while for Mainz it's one of just two away wins in the league since October 2022. Bayer 04 came out on top in the last encounter though, winning 3-0 earlier this season.

The two sides have met competitively 36 times in total, with a slight advantage for the Werkself, who have won 19 games. Twelve have gone the way of Mainz, while just five have ended in a draw.

focus on 05ers

New boss Bo Henriksen, Mainz's third head coach of this season after Bo Svensson and Jan Siewert, got off to a perfect start with a 1-0 win against FC Augsburg last weekend. It ended a run of 11 games without a win and was only their second success of the current campaign. The Rhineland-Palatinate club, who signed Nadiem Amiri from Leverkusen in January, are particularly physical in their play. No side have contested more tackles per game than the 05ers this season (118). Two other stats underline this point: Mainz have registered the most fouls (298) and second-most cards (61). Read a more thorough analysis of the opponents HERE. 

second Bayer Sports Family matchday

Bayer 04 is using the home game against Mainz as an opportunity to organise the second Bayer Sports Family Match Day of the season. With this event and many others, the historic connection between Bayer 04, TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Bayer AG is being passionately revived under the Cross. Numerous activities centred around the Bayer sports clubs and Bayer AG will provide a special setting today. The programme for the themed match day starts with the stadium opening at 18:30 CET in the area around the BayArena and offers a wide range of highlights. More information can be found HERE.

Gerach in charge

The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Timo Gerach as the referee for tonight's fixture. The 37-year-old has officiated two matches involving the Werkself to date, with the Black-and-Reds winning both. Gerard will be assisted on the touchlines by Florian Heft and Robert Wessel, with Felix Zwayer as the VAR.

Related News

Ibrahim Maza gegen Freiburg
Bundesliga - 04.11.2026

Vote for Ibrahim Maza as Player of the Month for October 2026

Video game developer Electronic Arts (EA), in collaboration with the Bundesliga, has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for October 2026 – and Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among them. Fans of the Black and Reds can vote from now until Sunday 8 November (23:59 CET).

Show more
eSports
eSports - 04.11.2026

#B04eSports: A meagre haul to kick off Showdown Two

On Tuesday night, the Leverkusen e-sports team played the first three of their six group stage matches in the second round of the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship. They were unable to secure more than a draw in either of their matches against FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart. The match against Bayern Munich ended in defeat.

Show more
Facundo Medina für Argentinien
Bayer 04 - 04.11.2026

International roundup: Medina and Fernández named in Argentina squad

Once again, several Werkself players are set to represent their respective national teams during the final international break of the calendar year. Here is an overview of the Leverkusen players called up for international duty and the match dates. This will be updated regularly.

Show more
TopTorOktober2026_AndrichDiaby.jpg
Bundesliga - 03.11.2026

Goal of the Month for October 2026: Andrich’s thunderous volley and Diaby’s curler shortlisted

The Bundesliga has announced the nominees for the ‘Top Goal of the Month’ award for October. Fans of the Werkself can now vote for, amongst others, Robert Andrich’s stunning volley from the match against Mainz 05 or Moussa Diaby’s curling shot into the top corner from the same fixture. Voting, exclusively on the Bundesliga app, remains open until Sunday, 8 November (23:59 CET).

Show more
Ticket-Infos
Bundesliga - 02.11.2026

Tickets for the home match against Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bayer 04 host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.

Show more