This is only the third competitive meeting between Heidenheim and Leverkusen at professional level. It is the first time the Werkself will visit the top flight’s newest club in the Bundesliga. It’s also an encounter featuring the three players who’ve covered the most ground in the division this season with Heidenheim’s Lennard Maloney (250.8 km/ 155.8 miles) up against Leverkusen duo Granit Xhaka (249.9 km/ 155.3 miles) and Alejandro Grimaldo (244.5 km/ 151.9 miles).
Heidenheim are currently 10th in the table with 27 points in their first-ever season at this level. They have moved comfortably clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks thanks to an eight-game unbeaten run, which is currently the best streak in the Bundesliga behind the Werkself. Frank Schmidt’s team are top when it comes to putting in the hard yards with a cumulative total of 2,557 kilometres (1,588 miles) covered by the team over 21 matches. Find out more about Heidenheim in our opposition profile.
Heidenheim have been led by coach Schmidt since the 2007/08 season when they were still in the fourth-tier Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. It makes the 50-year-old the longest-serving coach in the Bundesliga and in fact in German professional football history.
Heidenheim’s Voith-Arena is also the highest stadium in Germany’s top three divisions at 555 metres (1,820 feet) above sea level. It has a capacity of 15,000, making it the smallest ground in this year’s Bundesliga.
Bayer 04 midfielder Robert Andrich is making his first competitive return to Heidenheim, where he spent a Bundesliga 2 campaign under Schmidt in 2018/19. He quickly became a key part of the team there and caught the attention of newly promoted Union Berlin as they prepared for the Bundesliga in 2019. After two years in Berlin, Andrich moved to the BayArena.
Around 2,000 fans are making the trip to Heidenheim to support the Werkself. The Bayer 04 fan liaison team has put together all the key information on this away game as usual. You can find all that HERE.
The German FA (DFB) have appointed Harm Osmers as today’s referee. The 39-year-old has previously overseen 13 Werkself fixtures, with six wins, four draws and three defeats. His assistants are Robert Kemper and Dominik Schaal. Katrin Rafalski is the VAR.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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