Bosz restricted his analysis of the home defeat against the Wolves. “If you saw the game then you have to say that Wolfsburg were better in all areas. For us, that means; forget it and move on. We briefly discussed the game against Wolfsburg and then focused on Freiburg,” said the Dutchman at today’s pre-match press conference.
A positive aspect of the current crowded fixture list (4 games in 12 days) is the chance for the Werkself to make amends. “After defeats, it’s always good for players if the next game comes quickly,” Bosz explained. “Now it’s down to us to show that it was actually just one bad game.”
The Werkself take on the team in eighth place in the Bundesliga. The team coached by Christian Streich drew 3-3 in an action-packed game at Eintracht Frankfurt. Bosz sees the quality of Freiburg primarily in their positional play and ability to play quickly on the break after winning possession. “And they’ve got a great mentality,” added the 56-year-old. That makes it even more important to remember the team’s own strengths. Bosz: “We always start by looking at how we want to approach the game. With this tight fixture list and the way we play, it’s important to have players on the pitch who are fully fit.”
Skipper Lars Bender is still unable to rejoin the matchday squad due to his foot injury. “He’s not an option for tomorrow,” Bosz reported. Other late changes are possible due to the short time available to recover after the Wolfsburg game. The Dutchman continued: “Football is a contact sport where you can always get a couple of knocks that you don’t feel during games – but you do two days later. Not everybody can cope with the short breaks, particularly where our game is very physically demanding.”
Match information:
Broadcasters: DAZN, Amazon Prime Video and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the game
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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The Bayer 04 Women’s squad for the coming season is continuing to take shape: Centre-back Emily Wallrabenstein has moved to Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserve team, who play in the Women’s Bundesliga 2. The 19-year-old has penned a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayern 04 Women have confirmed another summer signing, with midfielder Paulina Platner moving to Leverkusen from SGS Essen. The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Werkself.
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