
FFC Frankfurt are the record Cup winners with nine titles to date. "Frankfurt are in the first division and are a big club. We are clearly the underdogs in this match. You only have to look at Frankfurt's performance over the past few years," said Hagedorn. The club holds three records with ten final appearances in succession, five titles on the bounce plus three successive Cup final defeats. In 2002 and 2008 FFC won the treble. But there is no reason to be intimidated.
"FFC lost some good players in the summer," said Hagedorn. "And then there's the recent change of coach." FFC have just parted company with Matt Ross after disappointing performances in recent weeks. Second team coach, Niko Arnautis, has taken the helm. "The change of coaches means there will be a different approach from Frankfurt. So it's harder to say how they will play against us on Sunday," said Hagedorn. One thing is certain: "We'll try to give the big team a game and hopefully end up as winners."
The Bayer 04 Women's squad has been bigger in the past. Long-term absentees Laura Widak and Merle Barth (both knee) are joined by two other players on the injury list. Gianna Rackow suffered a torn cruciate in last Saturday's U18 DFB State Cup. The same fate befell Pauline Wimmer the previous week in a game against the second team. The coach will also have to manage with Melissa Friedrich and Sabine Sauder for the second round tie.
Nicole Munzert and Valentina Finestra did return to training this week after recovering from knocks. Given the injury situation, Hagedorn has involved second team players in training this week and they will be in the squad on Sunday.
The Bayer 04 Women are looking forward to getting great support at the Cup tie. Entrance is free to children under 14 years of age and adult tickets cost 8 euros. School students, students, apprentices and senior citizens only have to pay the concession price of 5 euros. Seats are not allocated.
Our season ticket holders and Club members are not entitled to free entry due to the share of gate receipts in cup games.

Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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The Werkself host Mainz at the BayArena on matchday 24 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 28 February, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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