There was huge disappointment after being knocked out in the second round of the cup competition. So, this week it is all about building confidence and gathering strength for Sunday’s encounter with TSG. “It’s important we get back on track in the league and try to go into the game with a 100 per cent attitude and produce the maximum passion and desire to compete,” declared Feifel ahead of the game.
The Bayer 04 Women have won two out of three home games this season – the Feifel team have not dropped a single point in the last three league games. The target is to secure the next home victory on Sunday. Hoffenheim will be full of confidence after winning their last two matches on the bounce (4-2 in the DFB Cup against FC Ingolstadt and 1-0 in the league against newly promoted SV Meppen). “Hoffenheim are a strong opponent and are one of the top teams. The team has great quality and has been working together well for a long time and they have some high quality players,” said Feifel about the opponent’s strengths.
A win would be important for both teams in terms of remaining in the top half of the table. Ahead of matchday 8, Hoffenheim are sixth and hard on the heels of Leverkusen with one point and one position less. The Bayer 04 Women beat the Hoffenheim team last season when the came out on top with 3-2 win in extra time in a hard-fought DFB Cup quarter-final tie in June. After six league defeats in succession against TSG, the Black and Reds will do all they can on Sunday to repeat the success of the summer.
With the exception of long-term injuries, Bayer 04 have a full squad available. Pauline Wimmer is back in rehab after her torn cruciate, and the two goalkeepers Anna Wellmann (finger) and Joyce Prabel (torn muscle) are also unavailable. First choice keeper Anna Klink will have U17 shot-stopper Charlin Lazauskas as back-up.
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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