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.
The head coaches of the U16 to U19 youth teams at Bayer 04 welcome some new faces to the coaching staff for the 2025/26 campaign. Overview of new set-up.
Show moreThe Bayer 04 Women are enjoying their richly deserved summer break up to 23 June following the best Bundesliga season in the club’s history. Six weeks after last season’s final matchday at VfL Wolfsburg (1-3), head coach Roberto Pätzold will welcome his squad for the first training session at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre on Monday morning. There will be a break in the preseason from 20 July to 3 August before training resumes on Monday, 4 August.
Show moreThe Werkself summer timetable is taking shape. The team under head coach Erik ten Hag will play four friendlies following the training camp in Rio de Janeiro (14 to 24 July). Bayer 04 are away to VfL Bochum, Fortuna Sittard and Chelsea. Another friendly is planned for the season opener at the BayArena.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the Germany U17 international Osman Turay. The 17-year-old joins the Werkself for the new season on a free transfer from Schalke 04. The talented left-back will strengthen the Bayer 04 U19 squad.
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