Just two days separate tomorrow's game and the 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart in the DFB Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday. Dortmund played on Tuesday when they went out of the competition after a 3-2 defeat against Werder Bremen. "They’ve had a day more for recovery and training," Peter Bosz said at the pre-match press conference.
The situation with availability in defensive midfield remains unclear: Julian Baumgartlinger, who was ruled out through injury on Wednesday, was not back in full training yesterday. "If he doesn't train today then he won't be in the squad," said Bosz who is also without Kerem Demirbay due to a one-match ban. Charles Aránguiz returned to the training ground this week for individual sessions but is not available for the clash with Borussia Dortmund.
That leaves just one of the four nominal holding midfielders: Exequiel Palacios. The winter signing made his debut for the Black and Reds against Stuttgart after serving a ban relating to his time in Argentina. Bosz: "While he's only played one game, I have seen him in training for a couple of weeks. He's a good player and I hope he can show that in the Bundesliga."
For the position next to Palacios, there are "several options," said Bosz. "Nothing is ruled out. I'll see which players I have available and then consider how we have the best chance of winning with them. That will decide how we play."
A look at the table shows the importance of the game against Dortmund: A win would reduce the gap to BVB to just two points but defeat would extend it to eight. Accordingly, the Bayer 04 head coach Bosz emphasised: "If we want to stay in touch with the top then we have to get a positive result." In addition to the former Leverkusen player Julian Brandt, who Bosz says has made "very good" progress, the focus at the moment is primarily on Dortmund's new signing Erling Haaland. The 19-year-old Norwegian has scored eight goals in his first four games. In response to the question of how to stop Haaland, Bosz answered: "I had the same question about Bayern Munich and Robert Lewandowski. We can only stop players like that as a team – we did that in the first half of the season in Munich. And that's what we want to do again this time."
Match information:
Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Broadcaster: Sky (TV) and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Attendance: 30,210 (sold-out)
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
Show more
A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
Show more
Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
Show more
The Werkself fixture list for the 2026/27 season in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga has been finalised. To kick off the season, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team travel to RB Leipzig between 21 and 24 August. The fixtures were announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday morning. The season will conclude with a home match on 23 May 2027 against newly promoted side Mainz 05.
Show more
