"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.
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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Following two close encounters against VfL Wolfsburg and away to TSG Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 Women face another top side on Monday night. The Werkself host German double winners Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 18:00 CEST to round off matchday 4 in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is counting on another spirited performance from his team.
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After the 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, Edmond Tapsoba and Christian Kofane spoke to Werkself-TV...
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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