Back
20.09.2019Bundesliga

'Then the goals will come'

Bundesliga matchday five is here: At the end of their first treble fixture week of the new season, the Werkself entertain league newcomers Union Berlin on Saturday afternoon (15.30 CET, live text commentary and Werks11 Radio in German at bayer04.de). Peter Bosz and his team want one thing above all else against the newly promoted side and that is to return to winning ways after three games without a win.

"Before the game against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday, I said we had to win. That also applies to tomorrow's game against Union Berlin," said the Werkself head coach at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The 2-1 defeat in the long-awaited return to the Champions League was painful. "That's why I’m glad we have the next game three days later and the chance to do better tomorrow," declared Peter Bosz ahead of the first Bundesliga meeting with Union.

Up to now there have been two games in the DFB Cup that the Werkself clearly won on both occasions: In October 2017 there was a 4-1 win at home and in October 2003 a 5-0 victory in Berlin. However, it is clear the Bundesliga newcomers should not be underestimated following their surprise 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund before the international break. And the team coached by Urs Fischer competed all the way in the 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen last weekend.

Bosz warns against quick counter-attacks

"Union Berlin are a team that – as last year in the second division – can get forward very quickly and are very dangerous in counter-attacks," said Bosz ahead of his reunion with the former player Sheraldo Becker, one of the quickest players in Germany's top flight. Therefore, his team needs to be wide-awake above all in defence. "When we have the ball and play with the lot of space behind us, then we have to be very well organised at the back. If we lose the ball then we have to put pressure back on the ball straightaway," demanded the coach.

And Bosz is also looking for improvement up front. "The last games have all looked similar: We've had a lot of possession. But what have we done with that possession? We have created too few goalscoring opportunities," said the 55-year-old bringing up a painful subject. As his team never refuses to give up – as in the performance in the second half against Lokomotiv Moscow on Wednesday – the Dutchman is certain that success will return soon. "It's a fact that there are lots of teams who sit back against us. Therefore it's an advantage for us if we score the first goal," he explained before adding: "But when we don't score the first goal then we have to carry on playing our game, move the ball quickly, try to get into the box and get enough players into the box. Then the goals will come. It's important the players have that confidence."

Bailey sidelined, Demirbay doubtful

Leon Bailey is definitely unavailable for the Werkself against Union Berlin. The 22-year-old Jamaican suffered a muscle injury against Lokomotiv Moscow and is ruled out for the next few weeks. And there is also the possibility of another player being unavailable: Kerem Demirbay did return to the training ground yesterday after back problems but Peter Bosz left open the question of whether the midfielder would be fit for tomorrow's game.

Match information:
Referee
: Robert Hartmann (Ingolstadt)
Weather forecast: 23 degrees, sunny
TV broadcaster: Sky Bundesliga 3 (Commentator: Jonas Friedrich)
Matchday hashtag: #B04FCU

The matchday ticket offices are open from 13.30 CET.

B04_TK_Tick1920_Homepage_BannerFullscreenWidthMobil_600x800_vsUnionBerlin.jpgsky_1907_gratis_300x250.jpg

Related News

Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2025

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn's July highlights

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…

Show more
Fanwelt
Fans - 30.06.2025

Fanwelt closed on 30 June

To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.

Show more
Julie Jorde
Women - 28.06.2025

Julie Jorde makes permanent move to Brøndby IF

The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 28.06.2025

Not the first time at the BayArena: Profile of Abdoulaye Faye

It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.

Show more
Abdoulaye Faye wechselt zu Bayer 04 | Erstes Interview
Werkself-TV - 27.06.2025

Faye: ‘Bayer 04 are the best team for my development’

Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.

Show more