Bottom of the table SV Darmstadt entertain league leaders Bayer 04. The top side in the Bundesliga has won twelve of the last 14 matches between the teams in 18th and first positions. There are big differences between the two sides and not just in terms of the table: The team from Hessen have by far the weakest defence in this Bundesliga campaign (47 goals conceded) while Bayer 04 have let in the least goals this term (14). In addition, no other Bundesliga team has had as few touches in the opposition penalty area as Darmstadt (340). Bayer 04 have more than twice as many with 734 touches in the opponents' box.
It has been a long while since SV Darmstadt have secured three points in a game. The last time was in October of last year when the Lilies beat Werder Bremen 4-2 on Matchday 6 and the following eleven league games did not produce a single win for the newly promoted team now in danger of relegation – no other Bundesliga team has gone so long without a victory. Darmstadt, who have seen four red cards in the league this season, are currently bottom of the table on eleven points. Mainz 05 are above them level on points and FC Köln have one point more in sixteenth. Further news on today's opposition can be found in the lowdown on our next opponents.
1,700 Werkself fans will be supporting the team in Darmstadt. The Bayer 04 fan liaison team has put together all the key information on the away game as usual. The fan information is HERE.
he German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Tobias Reichel as today's referee. The 38-year-old has been in charge of five Werkself games to date including the 4-0 win against Schalke 04 in October 2022 with head coach Xabi Alonso in the Werkself dugout for the first time. Reichel’s assistants today are Marco Achmüller and Christian Bandurski and the VAR is Johann Pfeifer.
As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Niko Hartmann and co-commentator Mario Bast, who has stepped in for Cedric Pick who is ill. In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app.
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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