Leipzig are currently on a longer losing run against Bayer 04 than against any other Bundesliga team, with the Werkself winning the last three league encounters. After a 2-0 victory in the second half of the 2022/23 season, there were two hard-fought 3-2 successes last term.
The spectators can expect another exciting contest today, where a number of players will also be facing their ex-club. Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick, for example, spent the 2019/20 season with the Saxony club, while Nordi Mukiele, in Leipzig from 2018 to 2022, has just joined the Werkelf. Leipzig duo Kevin Kampl and Benjamin Henrichs, meanwhile, spent a number of years in the Bayer 04 youth teams and later also played at professional level for the Black-and-Reds.
Leipzig boast an impressive squad once again this season. Not only is the starting line-up packed with quality, but there's plenty of danger on the bench too. Take new signing Antonio Nusa, who is proving to be something of a super-sub so far. The Norwegian scored the winning goal four minutes after his introduction against VfL Bochum on Matchday 1, having taken just 74 seconds for his first goal in the cup against Rot-Weiss Essen a week earlier. Nusa adds to an already potent Leipzig attack containing Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons. Marco Rose's side will be without captain Willi Orban today, however, as the centre-back was sent off against Bochum. There's more on our opponents in our in-depth analysis.
As part of today's Bundesliga match, the works club will appoint its former captain Jens Nowotny as honorary captain. The former Werkself defender thus joins the prestigious circle of seven club legends to date who are officially authorised to represent Bayer 04 in this special role.
The Bayer 04 honorary captains are: Rüdiger Vollborn, Bernd Schneider, Ulf Kirsten, Carsten Ramelow, Simon Rolfes, Stefan Kießling, Lars Bender, Jens Nowotny.
The Bayer 04 legends team have emulated Xabi Alonso's first team and claimed the German over-40 championship last weekend. Stefan Kießling, Patrick Helmes and Co won the DFB-Ü40-Cup in dramatic style in the last second i nBerlin.
The legends team will be honoured for this great achievement during the half-time break today.
Like they did in the cup match at Jena, the Werkself will wear black armbands for today's meeting in memory of Christoph Daum, the former Werkself coach who passed away at the age of 70 last Saturday. There will also be a minute's silence before kick-off.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck as the referee for the match against RB Leipzig. The 37-year-old has taken charge of five competitive games involving the Werkself to date, with a record of three wins and two defeats. Assisting Jöllenbeck today are Mark Borsch and Marcel Pelgrim on the lines and Tobias Welz as VAR.
Tonight's match is being broadcast live on Sky. As ever, there's also live text and radio commentary via bayer04.de and the Bayer 04 app (in German).
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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