Nearly four months ago on the penultimate matchday of last season, the Bayer 04 Women and FC Köln faced each other in a relegation battle in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga. The Black and Reds won the game 3-1– and thereby secured top-flight status while the team from Cologne were relegated to the second division after finishing level on points but with a worse goal difference
“Köln will be particularly motivated against us, ” declared Bayer 04 head coach Achim Feifel. But the same applies to his team. “We will need to be highly aggressive but we also need to keep a clear head at the same time and assert control.” In the recent Bundesliga matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen and Essen, his players produced impressive team performance and now it’s about building on it: “We want to play our own game and we need lots of periods of possession and efficiency – we have to use our attacking strength,” the coach explained. He believes FC Köln will try to draw his players “into tackles and look to pose a threat with quick counter-attacks. It will be a tough fight!”
Köln – unbeaten with maximum points so far this term – brought in some big-name players before the season to strengthen the squad. “They have a strong squad. You can’t let yourself be misled by the league they’re in. FC are not a typical second division team,” warned Feifel. In addition to Mandy Islacker (from Bayern Munich), Lena Lotzen (SC Freiburg) and goalkeeper Manon Klett (SC Sand), former Leverkusen players Sharon Beck and Marith Müller-Prießen have also joined the team. From the Leverkusen perspective, there is a reunion with former teammates: Juliane Wirtz and Ann-Kathrin Vinken used to play for FC Köln.
The Leverkusen head coach is considering rotating his starting eleven and his squad following the international break: “Everybody who has been here, has trained very well in the past few days. The decision of who plays in the Cup tie will be difficult.” The international players have come back fit and well and in Leverkusen several players have returned to full training after knocks having had time off during the international break – as did Sylwia Matysik this week after a muscle injury but she is not an option for the derby exactly like Henrietta Csiszar (knee) and Sofie Zdebel (muscular problem) who are both in rehab training. Also absent are long-term injuries Pauline Wimmer (torn cruciate) and Joyce Prabel (muscle injury) plus reserve keeper Anna Wellmann. She tore a ligament in her finger during training and had to undergo an operation.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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The Bayer 04 Women suffered a setback in the race for third place in the Bundesliga table. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team lost 1-0 at home to direct rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, with a penalty after two minutes deciding the match. With 32 points and a game in hand, TSG have moved above the Werkself, who remain on 31 points. There is now a three-week international break before the remaining seven Bundesliga matches.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without defender Loïc Badé for the time being. The Frenchman suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh in Saturday’s 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at FC Union Berlin. The diagnosis was the result of an MRI scan this Sunday morning.
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It is an expression of solidarity and a tribute to the unique fan culture Under the Cross: Bayer 04 Leverkusen make a special statement with the "50 Years of Fan Clubs" jersey. To mark the founding of the "First Fan Club 1976 Leverkusen", which was followed by many more over the years right up to the present day, the Bundesliga club is commemorating 50 years of passion with this new jersey. Highs and lows, successes celebrated together as well as defeats suffered are manifested in this piece of white fabric, a symbol of unwavering identification with the Werkself.
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