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.
Bayer 04 are again strongly represented in this year's Bundesliga Team of the Season from the games manufacturer EA Sports. Five Werkself players have been voted into the top XI for the 2024/25 season, a duo from the Bayer 04 Women's team are in the female Bundesliga TOTS. Bayer 04 were well represented last season with six male players in the top eleven, the most players from one club.
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A few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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In the long and renowned career of Jupp Heynckes his two years at Leverkusen fill a short chapter. Nevertheless, his work under the Bayer Cross between 2009 and 2011 left its mark. The former world class striker and coach with a worldwide reputation was also very successful here and he led the Werkself to the runners-up spot in the Bundesliga and he made a lasting impression on many people at the club. Jupp Heynckes today celebrates his 80th birthday. Many happy returns from Bayer 04 as we look back at two great years.
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A cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
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