The PreZero Arena has been a happy hunting ground for the Werkself to date. Leverkusen boast their highest win percentage away to TSG (65%) out all the teams who they've visited at least five times. Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo particularly enjoy playing against Hoffenheim - against no other team have the pair registered more goal involvements in the league (9 and 4 respectively). With the joint third-best attacks in the German top flight (both 34 goals) going head to head, it promises to be an attacking spectacle on Saturday afternoon. That was the case on the Werkself's last visit to the Kraichgau in September 2024, when the Black-and-Reds triumphed 4-1, with Martin Terrier's first goal for the club setting the course.
TSG carried their good form before the winter break into the new year with an impressive 5-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach in midweek. Christian Ilzer's side have now lost just one of their last 10 league matches. A number of their summer signings have impressed, not least in defence with Albian Hajdari, Bernardo and Vladimir Coufal. In attack, too, newcomers Tim Lemperle and Fisnik Asllani have shone alongside stalwart Andrej Kramaric. Ilzer has done a fine job of integrating after a summer of upheaval in the squad, creating an impressive team spirit and high intensity. If there are weaknesses, then they're vulnerability to the counter-attack and problems defending set pieces. Bayer 04 could capitalise on that with their pace in attack and defenders who are strong in the air. There's more on TSG in our comprehensive opposition analysis.
The Werkself can count on the vocal support of over 2,300 Bayer 04 supporters at the PreZero Arena. Some tickets will be available on the gate when the stadium opens at 13:30.
The Matchday 18 clash will be overseen by Daniel Schlager. Leverkusen have won eight of the 12 games that the 36-year-old has officiated, including the aforementioned victory at Hoffenheim last season. Schlager will be assisted on the touchlines by Sven Waschitzki-Günther and Tobias Fritsch, with Arne Aarnink the VAR.
From the 2027/28 season, the Women’s Bundesliga will be organised by an independent league association. Following the unanimous decision taken at the DFB Bundestag (national conference) on Friday afternoon, the league’s separation from the DFB is now official.
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Following the Bundesliga clash against RB Leipzig (Sunday, 20 September, 15:30 CEST), some of the Werkself first team players will be heading off for the first international break of the season. Here is an overview of the Bayer 04 players called up for their national teams and all the details of their upcoming matches.
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A special visit to the BayArena: 222 members from volunteer fire brigades in Leverkusen, the Rheinisch-Bergisch district and the Oberbergisch district watched the Werkself’s 2–0 home win over Slovenian champions NK Celje live in the stadium. Bayer 04 had invited them to the 2026/27 Europa League opener as a thank-you for their tremendous dedication. They watched the match together in Block F4.
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The Bayer 04 U19s have extended their winning run with a fifth consecutive victory on Matchday 5 of the DFB Youth League’s preliminary round. Coach Patrick Greveraars’ side secured a 3–2 (2–1) win in their match against second-placed FC Viktoria Köln, with Burak Kir and Nebe Domnic scoring for the hosts in the first half before captain Ben Hawighorst found the net after the break.
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