It’s a good enough reason for the fifth-placed Werkself to approach the game seriously, while Leipzig will be eager to take a step towards survival in their maiden Bundesliga campaign, sitting in ninth with 17 points, five above the drop zone. The 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, where Verena Wieder’s overhead kick salvaged a point in added time, should serve as a warning. “We’ve long put that game behind us,” stressed de Pauw. “We prefer to look at our displays in recent weeks. We’ve done a lot well there. We want to build on that to maintain our good feeling.”
In particular, the 2-0 win against Champions League qualifiers Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend will provide fresh encouragement. Forward Loreen Bender impressed with her maiden Bundesliga goal, just three minutes after coming off the bench. Fellow substitute Nikola Karczewska then got a second and her eighth of the campaign in added time. The pair showed “that also players coming on can make the difference,” stated de Pauw. He also had special praise for 18-year-old Bender: “She’s already a good player and can become an excellent player. She definitely has the potential.
Bender and her teammates could now make history in the final four games of the season, with 33 points the target to equal Bayer 04’s best-ever finish from 2020/21. Two wins would do the job in that regard. “We should focus above all on how we can reach it. Then there’s a good chance we’ll do it,” explained de Pauw.
The Dutchman has a clear idea of how he wants to take the next step on this journey against Leipzig, who signed Lara Marti from Leverkusen during the winter. “Leipzig will try to get at us early. We need to try to integrate our attacking players and be aware of how the opponent is set up,” he said, also making the point that Leipzig have “adapted very well to the level of this division and have a good chance of staying up. They have lots of good individual players who can cause danger with runs in behind.”
It’s not yet clear whether Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir will be able to make the trip to Leipzig after she went off with an ankle problem to be replaced by Bender against Frankfurt. Synne Skinnes Hansen is in line for a return after her thigh issues. Charlotte Voll (shoulder) and Melissa Friedrich (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 2-1 at TSG Hoffenheim on the 3rd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.
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Starting with the 2026/27 season, Bayer 04 has created a permanent memorial space at the BayArena. In the upper section of Block A in the southeast corner of the stadium, Werkself fans can honour friends and family members with whom they have shared many special moments connected to Bayer 04. In the coming months, this space will be gradually expanded, in particular with the active support of the fans.
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Bayer 04 has secured a new premium partner in DXC Technology, a leading provider of enterprise technology and innovation. The club has agreed a partnership with DXC running until 30 June 2028. At the heart of the partnership is DXC’s role as an AI integration partner. The company is integrating Bayer 04’s previously separate digital systems into a unified fan journey that begins long before matchday and extends well beyond the stadium visit. As a partner of the women’s team and main sponsor of #B04eSports, DXC will be supporting two promising sections of the club during this period. DXC will also gain significant visibility as the sleeve partner of the women’s team in the DFB Pokal.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.
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“Welcome home” was the message from a visually emotional fan in the direction of Moussa Diaby after Wednesday’s open training session. The French winger had just appeared on the BayArena training ground for the first time in three years following his return to Bayer 04. And before he took time for selfies and autographs, Diaby spoke to the media. Fellow new arrival Guéla Doué was also in action but not with the team for now.
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