#RBLB04 – Facts and stats ahead of Monday match

talking about Mondays

Friends of statistics watch out! This will be the first Monday match for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga but the Werkself have played on Mondays in the past. The last competitive league fixture on Monday for the Werkself was almost 40 years ago. Then in the second division, Bayer 04 secured a runaway 8-1 victory on 16 April 1979 at home to Rot-Weiß Lüdenscheid, who were relegated that season. The goalscorers were Klaus Bruckmann (2), Mathias Brücken (2), Peter Szech (2), Peter Hermann and Thomas Hörster). Bayer 04 celebrated promotion to the Bundesliga a few weeks later. Before that, the Werkself had played six times on a Monday: In the Regional League West the opponents were Schwarz-Weiß Essen (1963/64; 0-4), Alemannia Aachen (1965/66; 1-5), TSV Marl-Hüls (1966/67; 2-0), VfR 06 Neuss (1967/68; 2-1), Wuppertaler SV (1969/70; 1-1), SSVg Velbert (1969/70; 3-5).

first win against Leipzig?

This is the second season in Germany's top flight for RB Leipzig. To date there have been three matches against the Werkself. Bayer 04 have not won any of them. Last season there were two defeats for the Black and Reds (2-3 at home, 0-1 away) and in the first half of the previous season Heiko Herrlich's ten men were able to secure a 2-2 draw with goals from Leon Bailey and Kevin Volland. So we are still waiting for the first win against RB. The Werkself have already shown they can win against and in Leipzig  in the 1993/94 season: Bayer 04 won 3-1 at home and 3-2 away against VfB Leipzig who went on to be relegated.

strength at home v strength away

RB Leipzig have been impressive at home this season – last season's runners-up earned wins against FC Bayern and Schalke and a draw with Borussia Dortmund. All three teams are just ahead of the Werkself in the away  form table. The Werkself do not have fond memories of the last away game in the league – an impressive run of ten successive games unbeaten on the road ended at FC Köln in the middle of March. Ironically, Leipzig suffered their last defeat against the strugglers from Cologne on matchday 24. And that was in a home game at the Red Bull Arena. Nevertheless, Leipzig are third in the home form table – level on points with the team in second Hoffenheim.

Deniz Aytekin-the man in the middle

The Monday game will be refereed by FIFA match official Deniz Aytekin, one of Germany's most experienced referees. The 39-year-old from Franconia has refereed a total of 143 Bundesliga matches since 2008 including 26 fixtures involving the Werkself – the last was a 2-0 victory away to VfB Stuttgart at the beginning of December. From a Werkself perspective, the record is pretty balanced: Bayer 04 have won 11 times when Deniz Aytekin has been in charge (five draws, 10 defeats). In addition, he has shown 47 yellow cards to the Black and Reds and sent two Werkself players off. His assistants on Monday are Christian Dietz and Eduard Beitinger.

Tempo and goals

Could it be that is down to the 50th DFB coaching course that was attended by both Heiko Herrlich and Ralph Hasenhüttl in 2005? Coincidence or not – Herrlich's team the last season's runners-up from Leipzig are the strongest teams on the break in the league. The Werkself have scored eight goals in counter-attacks and RB Leipzig seven. However, the Werkself have struggled for goals recently: In 2018 Herrlich's man have only scored once on the break (in the 4-1 win at Hoffenheim and have failed to score at all in the last two league fixtures. Time for a change in fortune.

Alario still sidelined

In addition to the injured Joel Pohjanpalo, coach Heiko Herrlich will also have to manage without Lucas Alario on Monday. The Argentinean striker sits out the second game of a three-match ban. Captain Lars Bender is also in danger of being suspended. The 28-year-old defensive allrounder has picked up four yellow cards and another would see him banned for one game.  

GET BEHIND THE LADS AT HOME

All Bayer 04 fans, unable to travel to support the Werkself, are welcome to come to the Schwadbud to watch the game: The fan pub in the East Stand at the BayArena is open as usual for away games with the match shown on big screens. Doors open one hour before kick-off at 19.30 on Monday. A new option for following the Werkself on the road is provided by the Werkself Radio – an acoustic alternative to the live text reporting. Background information on the game  and live reporting are available on our social media platforms and on the bayer04.de website: Here we go, Black and Reds!

Simon Rolfes guest at 'Nitro'

As with Friday fixtures, Monday games are broadcast live on TV on Eurosport (including the Eurosport player). Viewers on terrestrial channels will have to wait until after the final whistle before they can see highlights of the first Bundesliga match for the Werkself. They will be shown on the Nitro channel in the programme 100% Bundesliga from 22.15 CET. Another highlight for Bayer 04 fans: The former Werkself skipper and Germany international Simon Rolfes will be a guest on the night where he will answer questions from the presenters Laura Wontorra and Thomas Wagner. Moreover: The programme will not only look at the the  Werskelf game in Leipzig but also show highlights of the other 17 games in the top two divisions.