Bayer 04 have won their last nine home games against Eintracht Frankfurt in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 32-5. For SGE it's their longest current run of away defeats against one club, while for the Werkself it's their longest current winning streak at home against a current top-flight side.
This match is also the fixture that's been played the most times in the Bundesliga (76) without ever ending 0-0. In last season's two meetings alone there were 10 goals. In the current campaign, Bayer 04 boast the second-best attack, scoring 2.8 goals per game on average. Frankfurt have also been prolific of late, though: since Matchday 7 of this Bundesliga season, SGE have scored in every match and netted a handsome 20 goals in total - one more than Leverkusen. Only FC Bayern Munich have hit the net more times in this period (24).
Following Thursday's home match against Molde FK, today's meeting with Eintracht forms the second part of this year's 'Festival of Friends', which covers the final three home games of 2023. In the area around the BayArena, there will be numerous Christmas activities for young and old, including a bouncy castle and a reindeer rodeo this Sunday (see map below).
The visitors currently sit in seventh place in the table with 21 points. The aim before Christmas is to move up another place so that they can go into the new year in one of the European berths. Their inconsistent performances haven't helped in this mission: after being knocked out of the DFB Cup 2-0 by third-tier side 1. FC Saarbrücken, they thrashed none other than Bayern 5-1 in the league. That was followed by another 2-0 loss in the UEFA Europa Conference League at Aberdeen. The Eagles are also struggling with personnel problems at present. Top scorer Omar Marmoush is suspended today after collecting five bookings, while Germany goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and versatile midfielder Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe are doubts after coming off injured in midweek. There's more on Eintracht, their team news, strengths and weaknesses in our extensive opposition analysis.
Christian Dingert is the referee for today's match. The 43-year-old has overseen 15 games involving the Werkself to date, with a record of seven wins, three draws and five defeats. Assisting Dingert are Benedikt Kempkes and Nikolai Kimmeyer, with Sascha Stegemann as the VAR.
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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