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).
In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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Centre-back Melissa Friedrich is set to remain at Bayer 04 for another year. The longest-serving player in the squad, who joined the club in 2016, has extended her contract to 2027.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Portugal U21 international Afonso Moreira. The 21-year-old winger joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique Lyon on a contract to 30 June 2031. In France last year, the left-winger made 37 appearances in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League, scoring a total of eight goals and providing eleven assists.
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