The Werkself have become a real force on their travels, including in Bremen. While Bayer 04 haven’t lost an away game in the Bundesliga for two whole seasons, it’s almost nine years (seven games) since they lost at the Weserstadion. It’s also just one defeat in the last 10 meetings home or away, although that came in the most recent in March.
Werder, though, rediscovered their home comforts at the end of last season and haven’t conceded a single goal in any of their last four Bundesliga outings on their own patch.
The start of this season has been very different, though. After DFB Pokal elimination at the hands of Arminia Bielefeld, they were then beaten 4-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening Bundesliga match. “Lots of things aren’t going right,” admitted captain Marco Friedl afterwards. The Green-Whites have lost two key players in goalkeeper Michael Zetterer and striker Marvin Ducksch. Karl Hein from Arsenal and Samuel Mbangula from Juventus have arrived with the intention of filling those gaps.
An injury crisis has also compounded things, with up to seven senior players ruled out or a doubt to face Leverkusen, including Friedl and midfield general Jens Stage. It’s not an easy situation for new head coach Horst Steffen, who previously led Elversberg from the fourth tier to the verge of Bundesliga promotion in last season’s play-off. Here’s more on today’s opponents HERE.
The Werkself can once again look forward to great support in Bremen, with 3,800 fans making the trip from Leverkusen. Information for travelling fans can be found HERE.
The German FA (DFB) have appointed Dr Robin Braun to oversee this game – the fourth of his career in the Bundesliga. The 29-year-old previously took charge of the Werkself’s 3-1 win at home to Hoffenheim in February. His assistants are Florian Heft and Asmir Osmanagic. The fourth official is Richard Hempel, with Tobias Welz as VAR.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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