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.
The German Football League (DFL) has announced the three candidates for Bundesliga ‘Rookie of the Month’ for February. Among the candidates is Werkself player Jarell Quansah. Fans of Bayer 04 can vote for their favourite on the Bundesliga app from now until Thursday, 5 March (23:59 CET).
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On a day that celebrated 50 years of official Bayer 04 fan clubs with festivities on the pitch during the match against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday, New York-based Werkself Warriors were proudly represented on the field by co-founder Alex Kramm.
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The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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