Bottom of the table SV Darmstadt entertain league leaders Bayer 04. The top side in the Bundesliga has won twelve of the last 14 matches between the teams in 18th and first positions. There are big differences between the two sides and not just in terms of the table: The team from Hessen have by far the weakest defence in this Bundesliga campaign (47 goals conceded) while Bayer 04 have let in the least goals this term (14). In addition, no other Bundesliga team has had as few touches in the opposition penalty area as Darmstadt (340). Bayer 04 have more than twice as many with 734 touches in the opponents' box.
It has been a long while since SV Darmstadt have secured three points in a game. The last time was in October of last year when the Lilies beat Werder Bremen 4-2 on Matchday 6 and the following eleven league games did not produce a single win for the newly promoted team now in danger of relegation – no other Bundesliga team has gone so long without a victory. Darmstadt, who have seen four red cards in the league this season, are currently bottom of the table on eleven points. Mainz 05 are above them level on points and FC Köln have one point more in sixteenth. Further news on today's opposition can be found in the lowdown on our next opponents.
1,700 Werkself fans will be supporting the team in Darmstadt. The Bayer 04 fan liaison team has put together all the key information on the away game as usual. The fan information is HERE.
he German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Reichel as today's referee. The 38-year-old has been in charge of five Werkself games to date including the 4-0 win against Schalke 04 in October 2022 with head coach Xabi Alonso in the Werkself dugout for the first time. Reichel’s assistants today are Marco Achmüller and Christian Bandurski and the VAR is Johann Pfeifer.
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 co-commentator Mario Bast, who has stepped in for Cedric Pick who is ill. 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.
The international break produced a full range of emotions for Bayer 04’s women. While four Leverkusen players were in play-off action to try and reach the World Cup, including two important goals, there were others in friendly action. Here’s a round-up of all the results…
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The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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Intercultural exchange: a youth team from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, visited Leverkusen in the last few days. The players and staff from AD DUHA FC enjoyed a varied programme including training, a friendly - and a very special experience on Saturday afternoon.
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There will be a change at the top of the Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH shareholder committee at the end of the year, with Werner Wenning stepping down from the Bundesliga club's control committee on 31 December 2026. Wolfgang Nickl, who has been part of the committee since March of this year, will take over the chairmanship on 1 January 2027.
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