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There is plenty of confidence – on both sides: While the visitors from Bochum have won the last three Bundesliga matches, the Werkself have gone one better with four wins on the bounce. "We are expecting a very, very intense match and an opponent playing with a lot of energy," said Xabi Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon. "They fight for every ball. We also need that commitment to come out on top."
The previous match in Mönchengladbach (3-2) serves as a lesson and illustration right up to the last minute to "give everything. If we don't play with the highest mentality, focus and intensity then everybody will have chances against us." Last weekend, the Werkself built up a 3-0 lead but conceded two goals late on.
As at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Charles Aránguiz and Patrik Schick are again unavailable for the match against Bochum. In response to a question on centre forward Schick, Alonso gave an update: "Patrik feels a lot better and has made good progress in the last two weeks. He definitely won't be with us tomorrow and it's probably too early for Dortmund. But he's getting closer."
One Black and Red player being talked about for their efforts on the pitch is Mitchel Bakker. The 22-year-old Dutchman has started for the Werkself at left-back in the last four matches and Bakker scored the opening goal in the clash with the Foals. Alonso was full of praise in response to a question about Bakker: "We've worked a lot with Mitch and said to him he has to get forward into the box more often. He scored the goal from two yards out and he went right from the back to right to the front. That's exactly what I want to see."
Around 26,500 tickets have been sold for the first Bundesliga home game of the year with 3,000 going to Bochum fans. Tickets for the match at the BayArena kicking off at 20.30 CET are still available via the usual options including at the ticket web shop. Information on ticket sales can be found HERE.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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