The 31-year-old knows how it all works: The defender can look back at five finals in the DFB Cup including two wins with Borussia Dortmund (2011/12 and 2016/17). "We need top preparation – with full concentration on the game," said the Leverkusen player ahead of the meeting with the record cup winners.
The circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic – the final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin will be played behind closed doors – are also new for the stalwart. Sven Bender: "The atmosphere before, during and after the final was always very special. It will be different this time round. But that's not a problem for us. There is great anticipation as the club hasn't been in a final for a long time. We are all eager to win this title!"
Bayer 04, alongside Borussia Mönchengladbach, are only one of two teams who have beaten the Munich side since Hansi Flick took over as coach – the 55-year-old was the successor to Niko Kovac at the start of November. Sven Bender does believe that Bayern are much stronger today than they were in the 2-1 away win at the Allianz Arena at the end of November. "Since then, they have come on a long way. They are incredibly difficult to play against and beat under Hansi Flick. That's clearly what the statistics show," said the Werkself central defender. "But we have weapons to beat them. We have to be brave and play our own game."
Therefore, the 31-year-old does not see an option of initiating a plan B given the pace of the FCB defence that the Leverkusen wingers will face: "Our own game has brought us to the final and also a lot of points in the Bundesliga."
Clashes with FC Bayern have a special importance to Sven Bender because "they're the strongest team in Germany and belong to the top teams in Europe and worldwide." The Werkself defender was born in Rosenheim in Upper Bavaria and played for the youth teams at SpVgg Unterhaching as well as TSV 1860 Munich. As Saturday night brings a clash with the great rivals of the two former clubs of Sven and Lars Bender, "we would like to make the fans of Haching and 1860 happy with a win."
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
Show more
Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
Show more
A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
Show more
