10.01.2026Bundesliga

Matchday News #B04VfB: New stoppage time display for third straight Saturday primetime clash

The Werkself host VfB Stuttgart this evening (10 January, 18:30 CET), a side whose recent Bundesliga form has been indifferent but who have regularly produced top performances in the DFB Pokal and UEFA Europa League, and who have a key player back in the squad in striker Ermedin Demirovic. Off the pitch, the BayArena faithful will be able to see the remaining stoppage time live on the video screens. The Matchday News.

#B04VfB: match facts

It's a long time since Bayer 04 last suffered defeat against Stuttgart. Since the 1-0 reverse at home in April 2018, the Werkself have gone 15 games unbeaten - and will be hoping to continue that run in their third consecutive Saturday primetime Bundesliga clash. The Black-and-Reds can also take encouragement from their positive record after the winter break in recent years, having won their last three Bundesliga matches following the turn of the year. No other team in the German top flight boast a longer run of its kind. VfB, meanwhile, have won just one of their last five league encounters, whereas Kasper Hjulmand's side went into the winter break with back-to-back wins against 1. FC Köln (2-0) and RB Leipzig (3-1), while the injury situation is also ever improving.

the swabians analysed

"I feel that the lads are in good shape," summarised VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß after his team's 3-2 win in a friendly against Swiss top-flight side FC Luzern. Despite a slight rough patch in the league, Stuttgart are still in the quarter-finals of the cup and also on course for the round of 16 in the Europa League. The Swabians also welcome back burly forward Ermedin Demirovic for the trip to the BayArena, although Hoeneß is still missing a number of important players, including centre-back Ameen Al Dakhil (illness) and attacking hotshot Bilal El-Khannouss (Africa Cup). VfB will be doing everything to overcome their defensive problems against the top clubs in the league and impose their dominant style of play. More in our opposition analysis.

stoppage time display on stadium screens

Fans inside the stadium will no longer have to keep track of how much stoppage time is left. From the beginning of the second half of the season, the specified added time will be displayed to the second on the video screens in the stadium after both 45 and 90 minutes. Note: this relates to the minimum stoppage time that can be added on by the referee.

the officials

On the subject on the referee, Felix Zwayer is the first official who will get to use this new feature at the BayArena. The 44-year-old is one of the most experienced German referees and has overseen 37 Werkself fixtures to date, with the Werkself not losing any of the last seven. The Berliner will be assisted by Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz on the touchlines on Saturday evening, with Tobias Welz as the video assistant.

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