After the two 2-1 wins before Christmas, the Bayer 04 Women were fifth in the table on 20 points and only five points behind third-placed TSG going into the winter break. The aim now is to defend that position in the ten remaining games in the second half of the season and reproduce the good performances from before the winter break. The first match in 2021 is against Hoffenheim who have won nine of their last ten games – including the match against the Werkself Women. The first meeting on matchday 8 ended in a 5-2 defeat for Leverkusen. Bayer 04 did take an early lead and only conceded the fourth goal on 90 minutes that sealed the outcome of the game.
That is not the only reason why the head coach Achim Feifel is confident ahead of the game. The build-up with friendlies against league rivals Werder Bremen (3-2) and second division Borussia Bocholt (7-0) proved to be a big success. A new striker has recently joined the squad: Fans and the team can look forward to new signing Mina Tanaka. “Mina has a work permit and everything else will be decided after the final pre-match training session,” explained Feifel regarding a possible debut for the Japan international who has joined the Werkself on loan to the end of the season from INAC Kobe Leonessabis.
To get a result at Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 coach is expecting a courageous performance. “We have to be brave and have lots of confidence going into the game. It will be important for us to be switched on from the start and be aggressive in challenges. You can’t afford to let a top team like Hoffenheim have space or give them time to pass it around. We will try to make the most of our counter-attacks and cause them problems.”
TSG have the top goalscorer in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga in Nicole Billa. She has scored 14 goals so far this term. “We’ll try to defend collectively against the player and try to prevent passes getting to her,” said Feifel in setting out his plan. The Black and Reds will have to produce a top performance in the away game at Hoffenheim – “We’ll get our chances if we can stay in the game.”
Sandra Jessen, Nina Brüggemann, Viktoria Pinther, Pauline Machtens, Melissa Friedrich and Pauline Wimmer are all unavailable for Sunday’s game as is Jessica Wich, who is in rehab training following her broken ankle.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against SGS Essen on the 11th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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VfL Wolfsburg, without a win against Bayer 04 at home in the Volkswagen Arena for over ten years, will be looking to reverse the trend following the recent dismissal of their coach and sporting director. Werkself coach Kasper Hjulmand, who will be reunited with several Wolves players he knows from his time as the Denmark head coach, will do everything in his power to continue Leverkusen's unbeaten run in the Autostadt. The match against VfL Wolfsburg will also include Germany's bid to host the UEFA Women's EURO 2029. Today’s matchday news.
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Following the international break, Bayer 04 are away to VfL Wolfsburg on Bundesliga matchday 11 in 2025/26, on Saturday, 22 November (kick-off: 15:30 CET) in the first of eight matches between now and Christmas. Ahead of the game at the Volkswagen Arena, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the Wolves, the reunion with some familiar faces and the latest updates on his own squad.
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VfL Wolfsburg are looking for a fresh start after parting company with head coach Paul Simonis and sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz during the recent international break. The Wolves are looking to kick off their revival this Saturday, 22 November (kick-off: 15:30 CET), in the home game against the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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His loss has left Bayer 04 deeply saddened: Dieter Herzog, World Cup winner in 1974 and seven years playing for Bayer 04, passed away this week at the age of 79.
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