Bayer 04 Leverkusen versus FC Bayern – the record champions are looking to take the next step in defending the league title on matchday 29 away to the team lying 12th in the table. Three wins in the remaining six fixtures will secure the title. Read on for five facts on the clash in Leverkusen:
#1 Bogey team
Of all the teams the Werkself have played at least three times in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen have collected the fewest points against FC Bayern. After 75 league meetings they have an average of 0.8 points per game. The Rhinelanders have suffered the most defeats (44) and conceded the most goals (141) against Bayern. The overall record from a Leverkusen perspective: 44 defeats, 16 wins, 15 draws.
#2 Records
Bayern have only lost one of their last nine competitive games against Leverkusen (five wins, three draws). The last defeat came on matchday 31 of the 2014/15 season when FCB were already champions. On the other hand, the Reds have only won one of their last seven Bundesliga away games at Leverkusen (two defeats, four draws). The overall Bayern record at the Werkself is relatively balanced: 15 wins, 13 defeats, nine draws.
#3 Attendance
There will be a full house at the BayArena on Saturday night with not one of the 30,210 seats empty. This will be the 350th Bundesliga game in succession involving FC Bayern that has been a sell-out
#4 Reunion
Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti and Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler often met on the pitch as players: in the 1988 European Championship opener between Germany and Italy as well as in four Serie A fixtures between Ancelotti's AC Milan and Völler's AS Roma. Ancelotti did not lose any of the four (three wins, one draw). The only time Rudi Völler came out on top was in the semi-final of the Italian cup (Coppa Italia) in the 1990/91 campaign.
#5 Referee
Daniel Siebert is the referee for Saturday night's game at Leverkusen. The 32-year-old teacher from Berlin was in charge of the DFB Cup game at the beginning of March that ended in a 3-0 win against Schalke. Siebert has refereed ten competitive games involving FC Bayern and the record champions have not lost any of them. He will be assisted by Lasse Koslowski and Jan Seidel. Marcel Pelgrim is the fourth official.