Leverkusen have the better of the head-to-head record with 28 wins from 58 top-flight encounters, plus 13 draws and 17 defeats. It’s just one loss in the last 10 meetings, which came in Bochum on 27 May 2023 (3-0). And as we all remember, Xabi Alonso’s side then went on a 51-game unbeaten run in all competitions following that.
It also makes the reverse in Bochum over a year ago the last Bundesliga defeat away from home for the Werkself, who are now unbeaten in 21 on their league travels. In the history of the Bundesliga, only Bayern Munich have ever managed longer undefeated away streaks (33 from 2012 to 2014, 26 from 1985 to 1987).
Coming into today’s game, Bayer 04 top the Bundesliga for the most shots this season (177), while Bochum rank third for most shots faced (157) behind Holstein Kiel (160) and Eintracht Frankfurt (159).
This week, Bochum announced Dieter Hecking as their new head coach until the end of the season. The Bochum native comes with a wealth of experience ahead of his 419th Bundesliga game on the touchline – the most of any current Bundesliga coach – and with the task of turning things around. The Ruhr club have just one point from their first nine games, which equals the worst start of any team to a Bundesliga season. Add in their goal difference (-20), and it’s in fact the worst of any side after nine rounds of fixtures. And there are also other areas of great concern at the Ruhrstadion. Only Union Berlin (39.1%) have averaged less possession than Bochum (40.3%), who’ve also played the fewest passes of all teams (3,070) and have the worst pass completion (74%). Find out more about today’s opponents HERE.
The A40 motorway is still fully closed towards Essen due to subsidence in the carriageway at the Kaiserberg junction near Duisburg. This may result in travel restrictions. Road users on the A40 going towards Essen will be diverted via the A59. It is no longer possible to access the A40 from the A59 towards Essen. All fans are advised to find out about alternative routes in good time and to make their way to the Vonovia Ruhrstadion as early as possible.
Bayer 04 fan liaison team has all the information you need about the away game for the 2,750 fans travelling to the match HERE.
The German FA (DFB) has appointed Robert Hartmann as the referee for today’s game in Bochum. The 45-year-old has previously overseen 19 Werkself fixtures (W10, D6, L3). His assistants are Christian Leicher and Christian Gittelmann. The VAR is Guido Winkmann.
In the third home fixture in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign, the Werkself entertain the Italian champions Inter Milan at the BayArena. The game on Matchday 6 is on Tuesday, 10 December (kick-off: 21.00 CET). Read on for the information on ticket sales for this game.
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A sixth win in the ninth game of the season for the Bayer 04 Women: After a dominant performance against newcomers Turbine Potsdam, the team under coach Roberto Pätzold are hard on the heels of the leading trio in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. In the 3-0 home win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the Werkself goals were scored by Kristin Kögel (4’), Cornelia Kramer (13’) and Lilla Turanyi (62’). Leverkusen remain in fourth place on 20 points two points behind league leaders VfL Wolfsburg and level-pegging with Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich.
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Once again in the current Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 concede late and draw. The 1-1 scoreline between Bayer 04 and VfL Bochum, who produced a fighting display under new coach Dieter Hecking to secure their second point of the season, is the third draw for the Werkself in succession. Xabi Alonso and the team led by captain Lukas Hradecky clearly expressed their dissatisfaction after the game. Reaction, stats and facts can be found here in the Werkself review.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04’s 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum on the 10th matchday of the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign…
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