Following the 2-0 defeat to MSV Duisburg on Saturday, head coach Achim Feifel said, “we discussed our performance yesterday and analysed the game.” His team’s approach to the cup tie is clear: “We have to be more disciplined against Hoffenheim and defend with more mentality. We will wait for one or two chances on the break against an opponent who are actually the favourites.”
For the 55-year-old, one of Hoffenheim’s biggest strengths is their quality on the pitch: “They’re a very skilful and, above all, well-practised team with a positive build-up and variable attacking game. In addition, they have a very dangerous striker in their squad in Nicole Billa. They are also very dangerous from set pieces with a number of players who are good in the air.”
This season’s DFB Cup campaign started with a 2-1 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. That was followed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory FFC Frankfurt that took the Bayer 04 Women through to the last eight. Hoffenheim have clocked up convincing away wins in the their cup run with a 7-0 scoreline at Hessen Wetzlar followed by a 6-1 FF USV Jena.
The personnel situation remains unchanged after the Duisburg game: The long-term absentees Melissa Friedrich, Pauline Wimmer (both cruciate injuries) and Karoline Heinze (back problems) are still sidelined and the game comes too soon for Isabel Kerschowski (muscular problems). Pauline Machtens has returned to the squad.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the match will be played behind closed doors. Fans of the Werkself Women can watch the tie live on DFB-TV (tv.dfb.de).
The Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta is set to join Hull City on permanent terms from 1 July. Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Championship club originally agreed a season-long loan in the summer with an option to buy included in the contract. A permanent move to Hull City has been triggered by the number of league appearances Puerta has made this term.
Show moreFC St. Pauli are on course to achieve their target for the season. The win away to Holstein Kiel last weekend saw the newcomers from the Hanseatic city take a big step forward in terms of staying up. This Easter Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST), the team currently fifteenth in the Bundesliga entertain the Werkself at the Millerntor. And they will have to manage without their captain Jackson Irvine for the first time this season. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 30. The game is on Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Millerntor Stadium…
Show moreThe Easter holidays enticed a large number of Bayer 04 fans to come to the training ground at the BayArena, today Wednesday 16 April, to watch the Werkself at an open training session in the afternoon. Afterwards, the players and head coach Xabi Alonso took time out to sign autographs and pose for photographs. And there was a lot going on besides: While midfield maestro Granit Xhaka fielded questions at an entertaining children's press conference, including the story behind his squad number 34, Nathan Tella faced the media.
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