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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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Werkself TV shows highlights of the 3-0 win against FC Villarreal on matchday 8 in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase...
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The Champions League journey continues! On the eighth and final matchday of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, Bayer 04 secured their place in the play-offs with a commanding 3-0 win over Villarreal. Malik Tillman put in a mature and combative performance for Leverkusen, scoring a brace (12', 35') to make it 2-0 at the break, while Alejandro Grimaldo (57') and plenty of control of the game did the rest in the second half. The draw for the Werkself's next UCL opponents will take place on Friday 30 January at 12:00 CET.
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