"Enjoy today, recover tomorrow, then we carry on," declared Xabi Alonso immediately after the 4-1 win at Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday night looking forward to the forthcoming clash with RB Leipzig, a "top team" in the Bundesliga. While Alonso's Werkself can look back at seven league matches without defeat in succession, the Leipzig team have won their last three matches and start in fourth place on Bundesliga matchday 29. The lead over Bayer 04, currently sixth in the table, is seven points.
The fact there is once again the chance of finishing in one of the top spots in the Bundesliga is down in part to the successful balancing act between league and European football. Alonso is not interested in prioritising one of the competitions: "The Bundesliga has exactly the same priority as the Europa League for us. We have been able to compete in both competitions to date. We want to go for it in the league and in Europe!"
The home game against Leipzig is the fifth match in the last 15 days for Lukas Hradecky and Co. However, Xabi Alonso does not see tiredness in his team after the busy period of fixtures: "If your mind is clear then it doesn't matter. We have to play with all our energy on Sunday and we need a top performance.
It remains to be seen if the Spaniard can call on Edmond Tapsoba and Exequiel Palacios for the game against RB Leipzig. Tapsoba was substituted on the hour mark in the quarter-final second leg. Alonso explained: "Eddy has some minor muscular problems. We wanted to rest him as he's an important player for us and we need him. We have important games coming up." Palacios did not travel to Belgium due to muscular problems. "There is a chance for Pala on Sunday but we have to take it day by day."
As in the game in Belgium, the Werkself can again count on the support from the stands in the important home match against Leipzig: 29,000 fans are expected at the BayArena and the home sections are sold out.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bayer 04 Women suffered a setback in the race for third place in the Bundesliga table. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team lost 1-0 at home to direct rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, with a penalty after two minutes deciding the match. With 32 points and a game in hand, TSG have moved above the Werkself, who remain on 31 points. There is now a three-week international break before the remaining seven Bundesliga matches.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without defender Loïc Badé for the time being. The Frenchman suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh in Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at FC Union Berlin. The diagnosis was the result of an MRI scan this Sunday morning.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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