Leverkusen have the better of the head-to-head record with 28 wins from 58 top-flight encounters, plus 13 draws and 17 defeats. It’s just one loss in the last 10 meetings, which came in Bochum on 27 May 2023 (3-0). And as we all remember, Xabi Alonso’s side then went on a 51-game unbeaten run in all competitions following that.
It also makes the reverse in Bochum over a year ago the last Bundesliga defeat away from home for the Werkself, who are now unbeaten in 21 on their league travels. In the history of the Bundesliga, only Bayern Munich have ever managed longer undefeated away streaks (33 from 2012 to 2014, 26 from 1985 to 1987).
Coming into today’s game, Bayer 04 top the Bundesliga for the most shots this season (177), while Bochum rank third for most shots faced (157) behind Holstein Kiel (160) and Eintracht Frankfurt (159).
This week, Bochum announced Dieter Hecking as their new head coach until the end of the season. The Bochum native comes with a wealth of experience ahead of his 419th Bundesliga game on the touchline – the most of any current Bundesliga coach – and with the task of turning things around. The Ruhr club have just one point from their first nine games, which equals the worst start of any team to a Bundesliga season. Add in their goal difference (-20), and it’s in fact the worst of any side after nine rounds of fixtures. And there are also other areas of great concern at the Ruhrstadion. Only Union Berlin (39.1%) have averaged less possession than Bochum (40.3%), who’ve also played the fewest passes of all teams (3,070) and have the worst pass completion (74%). Find out more about today’s opponents HERE.
The A40 motorway is still fully closed towards Essen due to subsidence in the carriageway at the Kaiserberg junction near Duisburg. This may result in travel restrictions. Road users on the A40 going towards Essen will be diverted via the A59. It is no longer possible to access the A40 from the A59 towards Essen. All fans are advised to find out about alternative routes in good time and to make their way to the Vonovia Ruhrstadion as early as possible.
Bayer 04 fan liaison team has all the information you need about the away game for the 2,750 fans travelling to the match HERE.
The German FA (DFB) has appointed Robert Hartmann as the referee for today’s game in Bochum. The 45-year-old has previously overseen 19 Werkself fixtures (W10, D6, L3). His assistants are Christian Leicher and Christian Gittelmann. The VAR is Guido Winkmann.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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