B04 vs. RBL: Pre-Match Facts ahead of Clash against the Double Winner

More than just a high-caliber match!

RB Leipzig will be visiting the reigning German champions and DFB Pokal winners Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday (6:30PM CEST/ 12:30 ET). Both teams are facing each other in the Bundesliga for the 17th time. So far, the Red Bulls have won seven games, but the last three encounters have gone to the club from Ruhr region.

Find out what our team can expect against Bayer 04, how Leverkusen has strengthened itself over the summer and where the coaches of both teams shine the most!
 

The Undefeated

• The Red Bulls have not lost any of their last twelve Bundesliga games (eight wins, four draws), making them the team in best form after Leverkusen. Under coach Marco Rose, this amazing form was only reached once before, at the turn of the year 2022/23.
   
• Bayer Leverkusen can look back on an impressive streak of 35 unbeaten matches in the Bundesliga. With another game without losing, the Werkself could equal Hamburger SV's record of 36 games (second place in Bundesliga history).
   

Two top-notch managers

• Marco Rose and Xabi Alonso head the pack when it comes to this: Of the active Bundesliga coaches, setting aside those who have just debuted in the German league, these two have the best points average of all coaches.
  
  While the Leipzig manager averages 1.9 points per game, the Xabi Alonso has so far achieved an average of 2.3 points per game.*
   

* including all head coach stations
 

Signings

• Shortly before the end of the transfer window, Leverkusen went to Paris agains and signed the former Red Bull Pokal winner Nordi Mukiele on loan. The French player made 146 games for RB Leipzig and scored 10 goals.
   

Departures

• Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta Bergamo)
• Adam Hlozek (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
• Josip Stanisic (FC Bayern Munich | was on loan)
• Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al-Ahli Club)
• Borja Iglesias (Betis | was on loan)
• Patrick Pentz (Bröndby)
• Iker Bravo (Udinese Calcio)
• Gustavo Puerta (Hull City)
   

Between Leverkusen and Leipzig

• Patrik Schick played the 2019/20 season with the Red Bulls, scoring 10 goals in 22 appearances. 
   
• Kevin Kampl traveled in the opposite direction, leaving Leverkusen in August 2017 straight to Leipzig (53 Bundesliga matches with Bayer Leverkusen, four goals). 
   
• Benjamin Henrichs almost spent his entire formation years at Leverkusen (2004 till 2018) and made a total of 62 appearances with the Workers' Eleven, but wasn't able to score.
   

Head-to-head

• 7 wins, 4 draws, 5 defeats | 26:24 goals
   
• Top scorer: 
  Emil Forsberg (4 goals)
   
• Biggest win: 3-0
  November 11, 2018 (Goals: Poulsen 2x, Klostermann)
  
   

The last three meetings

• January 20, 2024 | Bundesliga, Matchday 18
  RB Leipzig – Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-3
   
• August 19, 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 1 
  Bayer 04 Leverkusen – RB Leipzig 3-2
   
• April 23, 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 29
  Bayer 04 Leverkusen – RB Leipzig 2-0