Will Leverkusen’s impressive away run still be intact once they return from Berlin? The Werkself haven’t lost in their last 22 Bundesliga fixtures on the road (W16, D6). The only team to ever enjoy a longer such run on their travels is Bayern Munich, who have done so twice (33 games between 2012 and 2014, 26 games between 1985 and 1987). Xabi Alonso’s men have scored in each of those last 22 away games, which is a club record run.
Union head coach Bo Svensson, who was previously in charge of Mainz, spoke ahead of the game of a “big task. The champions are coming to town. We obviously know that it takes a top performance to be able to compete against a team of such quality. But these are just the challenges you look forward to when you get to play in the Bundesliga.”
The game will also see a reunion with Kevin Volland, who had a hand in 83 goals across 140 competitive appearances for Leverkusen between 2016 and 2020. On the other side, Robert Andrich returns to his former club. He played 66 times for Union from 2019 until his 2021 move to the BayArena.
After a good start to the season, the Berliners have slowed up a bit in the Bundesliga. Often so solid defensively, the Irons will be looking to get back to winning ways at home against the champions, but will likely be without two key players. Find out more about the team currently lying in 10th place in our opposition profile.
The A1 is closed in both directions between the Dortmund/Unna junction and the Kamen-Zentrum junction from yesterday evening until Monday, 2 December at 5am for the demolition of a rail bridge over the motorway. A large-scale diversion is signposted on the motorway coming from the north or east from the Kamen junction via the A2 and A45 to the Westhofen junction. A diversion from the south and west will lead from the Dortmund/Unna junction via the A44, B236 and A2 to the Kamen junction.
The Bayer 04 fan liaison team has all the information about this away match for the sold-out contingent of 2,400 travelling Leverkusen supporters HERE.
The German FA (DFB) has appointed Christian Dingert to oversee the game at the Alte Försterei. The 44-year-old has previously taken charge of 18 Werkself fixtures (W10, D3, L5). His assistants are Benedikt Kempkes and Florian Heft. The VAR is Tobias Stieler.
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
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Bayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
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The Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
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Xabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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