The Werkself coach Roger Schmidt is well aware of the task ahead: “We need to be on our best form. We have every chance of winning the game at our own ground with our fans behind us – and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
The Werkself head coach recognises the opposition have been though a busy transfer window: “BVB brought in top players after the departure of Hummels, Gündogan and Mkhitaryan. Götze and Schürrle, Guerreiro, Dembelé and Mor are all very impressive new signings and it means Borussia’s attacking game is now even more adaptable.”
Talking about the high-scoring start to the season for Borussia, Schmidt said: “They look really solid and nothing like a team trying to gel.” Therefore, the boss is calling on his players to be “fully focussed and keep the ball far away from our own net. BVB have some very quick forwards. It’s good that we’ve got fast defenders in our ranks.”
It remains to be seen whether the Bayer 04 captain Lars Bender, who picked up a painful flesh wound in the Champions League match at Monaco, and vice-captain Ömer Toprak (bruised knee) will be fit to play. Schmidt: “I can’t give the green light for either of them and we’ll decide if they’re able to play against Dortmund after the final pre-match training session.”
Fan update:
The BayArena is sold out and Bayer 04 would like to point out that rucksacks and large bags are not permitted in the BayArena.
After Jens Nowotny was officially named a Bayer 04 honorary captain last weekend, the long-standing Werkself player is part of the Leverkusen delegation on the trophy tour to New York City next week from 11 to 14 September. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 50-year-old talked about his expectations ahead of the trip to the metropolis on the East Coast of the USA.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for matchdays 6 to 12 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Full details of the Bayer 04 fixtures.
Show moreMarkus Rehm, a long jumper at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, won the gold medal for the fourth time in succession at the Paralympics on Wednesday.
Show moreThe fixture details for the second round of the DFB Pokal 2024/25 have been confirmed. The home tie for Bayer 04 against second division SV 07 Elversberg is on Tuesday, 29 October with the kick off at 18.00 CET (live on Sky). That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
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