Three matches in seven days. After the 5-1 home defeat against FC Bayern and the successful test of strength at Real Betis (1-1), the Black and Reds return to Bundesliga action at FC Köln. "I'm expecting a game full of challenges and high intensity," declared Gerardo Seoane at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon who is only missing the injured trio of Julian Baumgartlinger, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Charles Aránguiz.
The last two matches against FC Bayern and the Spanish club from Andalusia have left their marks. But the Swiss boss is satisfied after yesterday's Europa League away game at the Estadio Benito Villamarin: "We wanted to be compact and that's what we did. It was an attractive and entertaining game for the spectators with highs and lows on both sides."
The Werkself, who returned from southern Spain in the early hours of Friday, now face the derby – and in circumstances that have not existed for a long time in this fixture between the two clubs: For the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the clash between these two rivals from the Rhine will take place with supporters in the stands. The FC Köln ground of the RheinenergieSTADION will be sold out with 50,000 fans at the match.
Also due to this atmosphere, Seoane says "Control of emotions is an important subject. Bundesliga matches are always intensive – but there's more emotion with derby games." Therefore the object is, "to keep calm and stand firm."
A former Köln player will be in the Werkself team in the shape of youngster Florian Wirtz. The 18-year-old playmaker has already played two derbies with the Bayer Cross on his shirt (4-0, 3-1) albeit without a win in front of fans due to the pandemic. "Flo knows it will be a special match for the fans. He will prepare accordingly," said Seoane. "Emotions are part of this business. The fans can express their feelings. We can deal with that."
On the opponents, who currently lie seventh in the Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 head coach said: "Köln are powerful and brave and they are very good at pressing. Their aggressive approach to the game could help us. We have to get out of those situations and then benefit from our pace." With that in mind, the fourth derby win in succession should be on the cards.
Two home matches on Saturday afternoons and three long away trips: the German Football Association (DFB) has finalised the fixtures for a further five matchdays in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. This means all of the Bayer 04 Women’s team league fixtures are now confirmed up to the end of November.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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In a top-quality encounter, the Bayer 04 women’s team lost 3-2 at home to Bayern Munich. Paulina Tomasiak opened the scoring with a free-kick (36’) and also netted a superb goal to make it 2–1 (52’). Vanessa Gilles (51') and Edna Imade (68') equalised for FC Bayern in a fast-paced and extremely entertaining match. Alara Sehitler sealed the win late on for the reigning champions.
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Special events for a special match: Bayer 04 are offering fans a varied programme of events at tonight’s home game in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga against German champions Bayern Munich (kick-off: 18:00 CEST). Alongside a number of interactive activities, events to mark the DFB Sustainability matchday are also planned around the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Read on in the matchday news ahead of the clash with FC Bayern.
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