Bayer 04 have won their last nine home games against Eintracht Frankfurt in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 32-5. For SGE it's their longest current run of away defeats against one club, while for the Werkself it's their longest current winning streak at home against a current top-flight side.
This match is also the fixture that's been played the most times in the Bundesliga (76) without ever ending 0-0. In last season's two meetings alone there were 10 goals. In the current campaign, Bayer 04 boast the second-best attack, scoring 2.8 goals per game on average. Frankfurt have also been prolific of late, though: since Matchday 7 of this Bundesliga season, SGE have scored in every match and netted a handsome 20 goals in total - one more than Leverkusen. Only FC Bayern Munich have hit the net more times in this period (24).
Following Thursday's home match against Molde FK, today's meeting with Eintracht forms the second part of this year's 'Festival of Friends', which covers the final three home games of 2023. In the area around the BayArena, there will be numerous Christmas activities for young and old, including a bouncy castle and a reindeer rodeo this Sunday (see map below).
The visitors currently sit in seventh place in the table with 21 points. The aim before Christmas is to move up another place so that they can go into the new year in one of the European berths. Their inconsistent performances haven't helped in this mission: after being knocked out of the DFB Cup 2-0 by third-tier side 1. FC Saarbrücken, they thrashed none other than Bayern 5-1 in the league. That was followed by another 2-0 loss in the UEFA Europa Conference League at Aberdeen. The Eagles are also struggling with personnel problems at present. Top scorer Omar Marmoush is suspended today after collecting five bookings, while Germany goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and versatile midfielder Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe are doubts after coming off injured in midweek. There's more on Eintracht, their team news, strengths and weaknesses in our extensive opposition analysis.
Christian Dingert is the referee for today's match. The 43-year-old has overseen 15 games involving the Werkself to date, with a record of seven wins, three draws and five defeats. Assisting Dingert are Benedikt Kempkes and Nikolai Kimmeyer, with Sascha Stegemann as the VAR.
The fourth European away trip of the season in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 takes the Werkself to the Greek capital. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team are away to Greek double winners Olympiacos on matchday seven in the UCL league phase. The match at the Karaiskakis Stadium is on Tuesday, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET). We'll be taking you on a trip to Athens and reporting on the Werkself close-up...
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A great honour for Bayer 04 Women's German international: as part of the 2025 Sports Awards, Carlotta Wamser entered her name into the City of Leverkusen's Golden Book. On Tuesday, she looked back on a special year in a talk in the Morsbroich Castle hall of mirrors.
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It was a disappointing night in Athens: The Werkself lost 2-0 away to Olympiacos on Matchday 7 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. In a match that was intense and fiery from the outset, the high-pressing home side made the better start and took the lead through Costinha on two minutes. Although the Werkself had a number of chances to equalise, the clinical Greek side increased the lead to 2-0 shortly before half-time (45+1’). In the second half, Leverkusen once again gave their all and showed total commitment but, despite their best efforts, the Black and Reds were unable to break down the Olympiacos defence on the night.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed a loan deal with Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach for Argentinian striker Alejo Sarco. The 20-year-old joins Mönchengladbach with immediate effect for the rest of the season.
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The Werkself are away to Greek double winners Olympiacos on matchday 7 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. Tonight, 20 January (kick-off: 22:00 local time/21:00 CET), Bayer 04 will not only face a familiar face in Panagiotis Retsos, but also an experienced and successful team in their Greek top-flight opponents. The Olympiacos midfield and forward line in particular are peppered with seasoned veterans from top European clubs - but even they will first have to find solutions against the Werkself defence that has recently performed with aplomb in the UCL. The matchday news.
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