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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed France U17 international Kenan Doganay. The 1.90-metre-tall defensive midfielder, who has Turkish roots, joins Leverkusen from the U19s at French top-flight club Olympique Lyon. He will initially train with and play for the U19 team.
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The Sports Tribunal of the German Football Association (DFB) has fined Bayer 04 Leverkusen €185,000 for spectators setting off pyrotechnic devices during a total of five competitive matches. This relates to four Bundesliga matches and the DFB Pokal semi-final against Bayern Munich. The highest individual fine relates to the away match at FC Köln at the end of April.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
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Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.
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