The Werkself have won three of the last four Bundesliga meetings with Leipzig, which is more wins than in the first 13 league encounters combined (two). However, Leverkusen were beaten the last time the sides met for Bayer 04’s sole defeat in their last 52 Bundesliga fixtures (W40, D11).
Leipzig have 31 points on the board after 18 games this season. They have only had fewer at this stage of a top-flight campaign in 2021/22 (25). As for Leverkusen, they’re enjoying their second-best start to a Bundesliga season with 41 points, with only last year’s haul of 48 able to top that.
It’s been a very up-and-down season so far for fifth-placed Leipzig. Things started well in the Bundesliga, but they ended up suffering some heavy defeats towards the mid-point, including a 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich. Last weekend, Marco Rose’s men threw away a 3-0 lead for the first time in their Bundesliga history to be held at Bochum. “It isn’t just today but quite frequently this season that we’ve been too naive. We’re jeopardising our goals,” the coach bemoaned afterwards. Find out more about Leipzig in our in-depth analysis.
There are set to be 2,900 Werkself fans supporting the team in Leipzig today. We’ve got all the key information for everyone in attendance HERE.
The German FA (DFB) have appointed Bastian Dankert to oversee this game in Leipzig. The 44-year-old has previously taken charge of 15 competitive fixtures involving the Werkself (W8, D1, L6). His assistants are René Rohde and Marcel Unger. Felix Zwayer is the VAR.
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
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