Three matches, seven points, top spot. That is the almost perfect record for Bayer 04 from the first three games in the current Europa League campaign. The team under head coach Gerardo Seoane are still unbeaten on the European stage – as are Real Betis: The Green and Whites have the same number of points from the first three games but are behind the Werkself due to an inferior goal difference (8:5) compared with the Werkself (7:2).
There are 14 days between the previous and the forthcoming meetings of the two clubs. Striker Borja Iglesias gave Manuel Pellegrini's team the lead from the penalty spot on 75 minutes in the 1-1 draw. Bayer 04 levelled seven minutes later through Robert Andrich. With almost the last kick of the game, Kerem Demirbay had the chance to make it 2-1 but his shot from ten yards was kept out with an impressive reaction save from the Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
The Andalusian side have played three matches in La Liga since the Europa League clash at the Stadio Benito Villamarin. Immediately after the draw with the Seoane team, Nabil Fekir and Co. overcame Rayo Vallecano with a 3-2 victory in an exciting game at home and that was followed with a convincing 4-1 victory over Valencia in the third home game in succession.
However, Real Betis suffered a defeat on the road last time out: Atlético Madrid were the 3-0 winners last Sunday. Nevertheless, the Green and Whites have moved up three places to fifth place in Spain's top-flight since the last Europa League match against Bayer 04 – their current tally in the league is 21 points from 12 games.
While the Werkself head coach Gerardo Seoane has another player sidelined in Mitchel Bakker (ankle injury), his opposite number Pellegrini has a full squad to choose from for the match at the BayArena.
The Chilean is well known as a fan of rotation: Midfielder Nabil Fekir and striker Borja Iglesias were both on the bench against Atlético. The latter came on as substitute in the closing stages but Fekir did not play.
It is possible the two key players in the Betis attacking game could return to the starting line-up on Thursday. Jonathan Tah and Co. will again have to keep a wary eye on the duo as Fekir and Iglesias have already been involved in eleven goals this season.
The sports tribunal of the German Football Association (DFB) has rejected Bayer 04's appeal against a replay of the Women's Bundesliga match at SC Freiburg (3-2). That's the outcome of a hearing at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt on Tuesday. Originally, SC had lodged an appeal against the match result.
Show moreThe Werkself visit VfL Bochum on Bundesliga Matchday 10. The game kicks off at 15:30 CET at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Saturday 9 November. Details on how to get tickets.
Show moreTickets are now on sale for another Werkself home game in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Tickets are available to everyone for the match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium against newly promoted FFC Turbine Potsdam on Sunday, 10 November (kick-off: 14.00 CET). The details in full.
Show moreWhile there are no Bundesliga fixtures during international break, last weekend brought overweight fans from 16 first, second and third tier sides together on the pitch in Leverkusen. Over 200 participants in the health promotion programme 'Football fans in training' (FFIT), organised by Deutsche Krebshilfe (the German cancer support organisation) and the Institute for Therapy and Health Research (IFT-Nord) accepted the invitation from Bayer 04 and Deutsche Krebshilfe on 12 October for the 2024 XXL fans tournament.
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