The Werkself have by far the best defence in the Rückrunde with four goals against while SC Freiburg have the weakest back line with 19 conceded in the Rückrunde. SCF do have a player on form up front in the shape of Michael Gregoritsch: The Austrian has been involved in four goals in his last four Bundesliga outings. Freiburg will have to manage without another key player today: Maximilian Eggestein is serving a suspension. Head coach Christian Streich – in the dugout since 2012 – has to manage without the services of his only outfield player who has started all 25 league games this term. Eggestein has clocked up the most minutes of all the SCF outfield players, covered the most ground and won the most challenges.
Bayer 04 are enjoying the second best season of all teams in the history of the Bundesliga with 67 points after 25 games. Only Bayern Munich clocked up more points at the same stage of the season in 2013/14 (71). The Werkself have also won 21 league fixture so far (a current club record) and that is already as many victories as FC Bayern secured in winning the title last season.
The 2-1 win away to VfL Bochum last weekend was the first league victory since the middle of January and that ended a run of six games without a win in the Bundesliga. Both goals were scored from open play, which has not always been the case for SCF this season. Nearly half of the goals scored by Freiburg in the league (16/34) have come from set pieces including seven penalties. No other team has converted as many spot kicks. With statistics on ground covered, sprints and intensive runs, SC Freiburg are in the bottom three teams in the league. Further information can be found in our lowdown on our next opponents.
On Matchday 26, the German Football League (DFL), the DFL Foundation as well as the clubs in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are sending out a clear message against all forms of discrimination and in support of diversity, tolerance and community solidarity. ‘TOGETHER! STOP HATE. BE A TEAM.’ – is the common message. The campaign logo developed by the DFL will be visible in the stadiums on substitution boards and match balls. The campaign is running in tandem with the international weeks against racism from 11 to 24 March.
3,400 Werkself fans will be supporting the team at the Europa Park Stadium in Freiburg. The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team has as usual compiled key information ahead of the away game. You can find the fan information HERE.
The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Harm Osmers as today's referee. The 39-year-old match official has previously been in charge of 15 Bundesliga fixtures involving the Werkself with seven wins, five draws and three defeats for the Black and Reds. Osmers’ assistant referees are Robert Kempter and Thorben Siewer with Felix Zwayer in action as 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 with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann and Cedric Pick. 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.
Despite a major personnel shake-up in the summer, RB Leipzig have performed impressively this term. Ahead of matchday 15, coach Ole Werner's team are second in the Bundesliga with a three-point lead over their upcoming opponents Bayer 04. This Saturday, 20 December (kick-off: 18:30 CET), the Werkself are away to RBL who are strong at home. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The German Football League (DFL) has scheduled matchdays 20 to 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The dates at a glance.
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This year - for the third time - the parents of the Bayer 04 youth players from the U8 to U15 age groups once again took part in the WDR Christmas Miracle. Under the motto "Goals against hunger in the world - parents in goal!", they organised their own fundraising campaign to once again actively support the important WDR campaign. The sum of €3,420 was handed over at the Glashaus in Essen in the middle of the week during the live programme.
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On Tuesday evening, Bayer 04's main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer and its employees welcomed some very special visitors to the company's Christmas market at its headquarters in Wuppertal: Werkself players Robert Andrich, Mark Flekken, Loïc Badé, Jarell Quansah and Malik Tillman spent lots of time with Bayer 04 fans of all ages in the early evening – and also helped to serve drinks such as Glühwein (mulled wine) and delicious food.
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The Leverkusen eSports players picked up just one point on Tuesday 16 December in the remaining three matches of the online preliminary round of Showdown Three in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. As a result, the #B04eSports team once again miss out on going through to the offline knockout phase and now head into the winter break.
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