Once again this year, the German Football League (DFL) and clubs in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are supporting the 'Day of remembrance day in German football' on 27 January 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp. That place is symbolic for the Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews perpetrated by the Nazis in the Second World War. German football is sending out a clear message: 'Nie wieder!' (Never again!). This ‘Never again’ is now. And forever!
With the aim of greater transparency, this matchday in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 marks the start of the pilot project on announcing refereeing decisions. At selected fixtures up to the end of the season referees will be able to announce their decisions via the PA system in certain situations on the pitch. One of the games selected is today's home clash for the Werkself against TSG Hoffenheim. Further information is available HERE.
The two teams have previously met 33 times in the Bundesliga. The Werkself have won 20 and TSG seven with six draws. Hoffenheim have only lost more matches in the Bundesliga against Bayern Munich they have against Bayer 04. The last four games against the Werkself ended in defeat.
This term, with 18 points from 19 games, TSG are having their worst Bundesliga season since 2015/16 at this stage of the campaign (back then 14 points).
Bayer 04 are unbeaten in the last 23 Bundesliga games on a Sunday. Leverkusen have proved to be prolific in front of goal on this day of the week: The last three Bundesliga Sunday games were won by the Werkself with four goals at least scored in each of those matches.
TSG Hoffenheim are currently fifteenth in the table on 18 points. After a disappointing Hinrunde complete with a change of coaches – Christian Ilzer has been in charge since November 2024 – there has recently been a slight change in fortune. TSG won 3-1 at newly promoted Holstein Kiel and drew 2-2 at home to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. Even though last Thursday's 4-3 win against Anderlecht in the Europa League was not enough to progress to the next stage: The win may give TSG plenty of confidence for today's game against Bayer 04. More information can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
As part of today's members matchday, there are plenty of events and offers for Bayer 04 Club members. Since 30 January, there has been a 30% discount offer on Castore articles as well as the ''Members recruit members' campaign where existing members receive exciting rewards for each newly signed up member and can take part in a prize competition.
Since yesterday, Saturday 1 February, new articles in the Club collection have been available to members. And today's matchday sees the purple 2024/25 goalkeeper's shirt go on sale. Further information on the members matchday can be found HERE.
Anyone wanting to discover the latest information ahead of kick-off can take a look at the new Werkself Live. The matchday magazine, which includes key facts and stats on the match, is available at the BayArena. Alternatively it is available free online. HERE is the e-paper.
The German Football Association (DFB) has put Dr Robin Braun in charge of today's game. For the 28-year-old referee this is his third Bundesliga match and the first involving the Werkself. His assistant referees today are Rafael Foltyn and Asmir Osmanagic on the touchlines with Robert Schröder in action as the VAR match official.
The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. As ever, supporters unable to be at the match can follow the game on Werkself Radio. The audio broadcast starts 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann and Cedric Pick. In addition, the live text update service will keep fans up-to-date. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
Following the Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig (Sunday, 20 September, 15:30 CEST), some of the Werkself first team players will be heading off for the first international break of the season. Here is an overview of the Bayer 04 players called up for their national teams and all the details of their upcoming matches.
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A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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