Back
3.11.2023Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #TSGB04: Complete the next stage of the marathon

Mission holding on to top spot: The Werkself are away to TSG Hoffenheim on Bundesliga matchday 10 in the 2023/24 season. The clash between the league leaders from Leverkusen and the team in sixth place kicks off at 15.30 CET on Saturday 4 November at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim. Ahead of the game, Xabi Alonso talked about TSG and his Hoffenheim fellow coaches as well as Edmond Tapsoba who was substituted during the week.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

Looking at the packed fixture list in the current phase of the season, Xabi Alonso talked about a "marathon" at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon where we "want to aim for a good result in every game." Building on the successful run of 13 wins in 14 games needs "a big squad and every individual player. We saw in Sandhausen again that nobody is giving anything away and that we must never lose our focus."

The fact Bayer 04 remain unbeaten this season is also due to strengthening the squad in the summer. "I'm a better coach when I have better players," said Alonso.

Tapsoba available for Hoffenheim game

Defender Edmond Tapsoba was substituted on 46 minutes in the 5-2 victory in Sandhausen on Wednesday. The Burkina Faso international landed on his left hand in the first half but he is available to play against Hoffenheim on Saturday. Tapsoba will wear a protective cast in the game.

3,000 Werkself Fans in Sinsheim

TSG Hoffenheim have 18 points from nine games in the Bundesliga and they already have a four-point lead in sixth place over the teams below them. In reference to Hoffenheim, Alonso talked about a "good mix of young and experienced players. There are very compact and have an intelligent style of play. That is also down to the coach (Pellegrino Matarazzo, ed.), who is doing a good job. It will be an intense game."

As with the cup tie in Sandhausen, the Werkself will have the support of 3,000 fans in Sinsheim with all the away allocation sold. No tickets will be on sale at the ground.

 

Related News

Paulina Bartz wechselt zum HSV
Women - 01.07.2026

Paulina Bartz makes permanent move to Hamburger SV

Attacking midfielder Paulina Bartz is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen for good on a permanent move to Hamburger SV in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. The 21-year-old, who was on loan to the newly promoted side in the winter, originally had a contract to 2027.

Show more
Fußball Akademie
Football Academy - 01.07.2026

Bayer 04 Football School becomes Bayer 04 Football Academy

The Bayer 04 Football School opened in 2007 – now this successful programme is getting a new name and a new logo: with immediate effect, the Bayer 04 Football School powered by BarmeniaGothaer is becoming the Bayer 04 Football Academy powered by BarmeniaGothaer.

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn 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 personal 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
Abholung Sitzschalen
Sustainability - 30.06.2026

For a good cause: Blau-Gelbe Kreuz collects BayArena seating

The sustainable use of the BayArena seats removed as part of the current stadium upgrade has taken on a new dimension: Following on from numerous Bayer 04 fans receiving their ‘Undefeated Champions seats’ and various clubs and community organisations from Leverkusen and the wider region having collected the dismantled seats, Blau-Gelbe Kreuz e.V. also made their way to the BayArena recently. The German-Ukrainian aid organisation took away around 2,100 seats; in Ukraine, these will be used to upgrade the sports infrastructure of two clubs.

Show more