Matchday news #SGEB04: Extend longest winning run - Eintracht with interim coaches

22nd remembrance day in german football

Once again this season - and for the 22nd time in total - the DFL and the 36 German professional clubs are joining forces with the "Never Again" initiative to support the "Remembrance Day in German Football" on 27 January, the day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism in commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp on 27 January 1945. This year's motto: "Defending democracy - learning from football's history". As with the home match against Werder Bremen (1-0), the Werkself's visit to Eintracht Frankfurt will also be marked by the Remembrance Day.

In mid-October last year, fans and employees of Bayer 04 travelled to Auschwitz (Polish: Oświęcim) together on a five-day memorial trip. The 25-strong group visited the memorial sites of the Auschwitz I concentration camp (main camp) and the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp.

#SGEB04: match facts

The Werkself have had the edge over the Eagles of late with Leverkusen currently enjoying the longest winning run against another Bundesliga club. The Black and Reds have emerged victorious in each of their last six encounters with Frankfurt, scoring 20 times along the way. Goals are always to be expected when these two clubs meet - none of the 81 encounters to date have ended 0-0. In the Hinrunde, it was the magical foot of Alejandro Grimaldo that made the difference with a brace from direct free-kicks that sent the BayArena wild.

focus on the eagles

After just one win from nine games, Dino Toppmöller had to resign from his position at Eintracht following the 3-3 draw at Werder Bremen in mid-January. U21 coach Dennis Schmitt and U19 coach Alex Meier are now in the dugout on an interim basis. But they were unable to prevent Eintracht Frankfurt’s elimination from the Champions League after defeats at Qarabag (2-3) and against Tottenham Hotspur (0-2). After a 4-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal second round, the team from Hessen are now fully focussed on the Bundesliga. However, the fact things haven't really gone to plan recently is mainly due to the Eagles defence, which is the most porous in the league with 42 goals conceded. In contrast, the Frankfurt attack has netted the third highest number of goals in the top flight. Due to injury problems, however, success up front has recently come to a bit of a standstill. To find out which new winter signings should compensate for the absence of top scorer Jonathan Burkardt and top scorer and provider Can Uzun against the Werkself, see the lowdown on our next opponents.

4,000 Bayer 04 Fans in Frankfurt 

The Werkself will have strong support at Deutsche Bank Park this afternoon with 4,000 Bayer 04 fans making the journey to Frankfurt.

match officials with black armbands

Robert Schröder will take charge of a Werkself match against Eintracht Frankfurt for the sixth time. To date, the Black and Reds have won four times under him, most recently in August 2024 at Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-2). On Saturday afternoon, the 40-year-old referee will be assisted by Clemens Neitzel-Petersen and Stefan Lupp on the touchline, with Daniel Siebert in action as the video assistant referee.

In memory of Eugen Strigel, who passed away at the age of 76 at the beginning of the week, the match officials will wear black armbands. After 70 appearances as a Bundesliga referee, Strigel was involved in the training and further education of referees at the DFB and he was then known as  an international observer of referees for FIFA and UEFA and later as a TV pundit.