The Bayer 04 Women's team returned to Leverkusen last weekend after a narrow 1-0 defeat at league leaders Bayern Munich without any points but with plenty of confidence. And the team under head coach Achim Feifel are looking to take that energy into the next match against SC Sand. A win would give the Werkself Women 17 points – as many as in the whole of last season.
"We definitely had a bit of luck in Munich but we did play with a lot of confidence," the coach said looking back with satisfaction. On Sunday, his team face a completely different challenge, this time as favourites rather than as underdogs. "We have to produce something in attack and play focused and constructive attacking football. The defence has to be solid and with good pressing we will try to stop possible counter-attacks and offer the opponents as little room as possible."
The team that finished eighth last season, where Milena Nikolic and Viktoria Pinther used to play, are currently in tenth place in the league with six points and a goal difference of six goals for and 27 against. They have lost four games in succession including the recent match against Werder Bremen. Only one point separates the visitors from SV Meppen in the first relegation spot. Last weekend, the team coached by Nora Häuptle did manage to secure a win: In the second round of the DFB Cup, Sand won 4-1 against Regional League side SV Göttelborn to progress to the next round.
"We won't underestimate SC Sand. They have lost eight games in the league but one of the two wins was against a top team Eintracht Frankfurt. They have quality in turnover and attacking play and are dangerous down the wings," Feifel warned.
The coach almost has a full squad to choose from again. Melissa Friedrich, Lara Marti (both with muscle problems), Henrietta Csiszár (ankle) and Dora Zeller (knee) have recovered from their injuries and they returned to full training during the week. That means the only absentees are the long-term casualties Pauline Wimmer (torn cruciate) and Jessica Wich (broken ankle).
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-1 derby win at 1. FC Köln Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
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There were celebrations among those in black and red at the RheinEnergieSTADION. On Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, the Werkself beat 1. FC Köln 2-0 and registered their sixth successive win in the derby. Aleix Garcia put Bayer 04 in front after just seven minutes with a direct free kick. Leverkusen played with discipline and energy after that and didn't allow some fierce challenges to unsettle them. Patrik Schick made it 2-0 in the 86th minute, and Said El Mala's goal in stoppage time for Köln proved nothing more than consolation. Jonas Hofmann crowned the derby win with his 100th appearance for the club.
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Bayer 04 have won each of their last five competitive encounters with 1. FC Köln, and it's around seven years since their last defeat in the cathedral city. That said, the hosts are in strong form at home and will make it anything but easy for the Werkself at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 15:30 CET). The Matchday News.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 2-0 win against Hamburger SV on Matchday 9 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 Women closed the gap on the teams above them in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win at home to Hamburger SV on Saturday afternoon. Roberto Pätzold's side bided their time at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion before second-half goals from Cornelia Kramer (58') and Lobke Loonen (90'+5) earned them a victory that moves them to within a point of third place, the final Champions League qualification spot.
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