Today's pre-match press conference started with the subject of the announcement of the contract extension for Bosz to 2022. The 56-year-old and Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes spoke about the contract extension before focusing on the clash with SCP.
And the Dutchman, whose team won the earlier league meeting at the BayArena 3-2 and the DFB Cup game 1-0 at the same venue, immediately highlighted the strengths of the opponents. While Paderborn are currently bottom, "we are talking about the hardest-working team in the league." The hosts covered a total of 2,034 kilometres in the first half of the season. That's three more than the Werkself who are second in that ranking. Bosz: "If nothing less, we have great respect for Paderborn because of that and it will be a tough game. They never give up, have great mentality and are fighting fit!"
It's important to the head coach that the away game does not turn into an end-to-end encounter. "Then everything will be unstructured. That suits them because they have very quick players up front. We'll try to be very compact," explained Bosz who will have to manage without the injured Charles Aránguiz, the suspended Leon Bailey, Wendell and new signing Exequiel Palacios. In addition, Paulinho is away with the Brazil Olympic squad.
Looking back at the first half of the season, the Werkself head coach wishes his team could score more goals. However, he is convinced that they are capable of putting that into action – for two reasons: "We've already shown we can score a lot of goals. In addition, we've created a lots of goalscoring opportunities – above all at the beginning of the season; that's always the start of it. That gives me confidence that we can score more goals than in first half of the season."
Match information:
TV broadcaster: Sky (TV) plus Werkself Radio (Start: 17.30 CET at bayer04.de)
Referee: Daniel Siebert
Tickets: Seats in the stand are available for Bayer 04 fans at the ground.

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-2 win against RB Leipzig on the 12th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
For the second time in three weeks, Bayer 04 have to face a team that has just changed coach. The Werkself’s overall record against Augsburg and the Bavarians’ poor season so far both point towards a Leverkusen win, but head coach Kasper Hjulmand is still aware of the threat going into Saturday’s Bundesliga encounter (kick-off: 15:30 CET). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 13 fixture at the WWK Arena.
Show more
The groups for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico have been finalised. At the draw in the USA capital Washington D.C., which was hosted by German top model Heidi Klum and others, 48 teams were drawn for the first time. The groups at a glance.
Show more
As part of the joint commitment of Bayer 04 and the City of Leverkusen to volunteering, the annual Volunteer Day took place in the 19nullvier Lounge at the BayArena. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, Stefan Hebbel, Mayor of the City of Leverkusen, and club representative Stefan Kießling praised the commitment of the 200 or so volunteers from the region in attendance and thanked them for their impressive efforts.
Show more