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.
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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The Bayer 04 Women’s squad for the coming season is continuing to take shape: Centre-back Emily Wallrabenstein has moved to Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserve team, who play in the Women’s Bundesliga 2. The 19-year-old has penned a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayern 04 Women have confirmed another summer signing, with midfielder Paulina Platner moving to Leverkusen from SGS Essen. The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Werkself.
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