
“Pauline expressed her desire to gain academic and sporting experience abroad. We are happy to oblige,” said Thomas Eichin, head of the Youth and Women’s sections at Bayer 04. “She’s a player with potential and great ambition. She will be able to compare herself with the best at the college over there.”
Pauline Machtens has a full-time grant to study at Syracuse University and she will also be able to carry on playing professional football for the college team. The team is in the ACC, one of the oldest leagues in American university sport. “Syracuse University offers me a real challenge and I’m grateful to Bayer 04 for allowing me to make this move,” said Machtens. “I’d like to take this opportunity to be a better player and I’m really excited at being able to start a new adventure.”
Pauline Machtens started playing at Leverkusen with the U13s; in 2019/20 she moved up from the junior section to the Women’s squad. She has made nine appearances to date.

There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
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Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 Women clcoked up a 3-2 win in a friendly against Twente Enschede on Thursday afternoon in the last international break of 2025. In drizzle, Lilla Turanyi (16’), Kristin Kögel (65’) and Paulina Bartz (69’) scored the goals for the Werkself against the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen leaders, who are still unbeaten in the league.
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