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.
A disciplined defensive performance in the second leg saw Bayer 04 prevail against Olympiacos in the play-offs of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26. Thanks to the 2-0 away win in the first leg, the goalless draw at home at the BayArena was enough to ensure progress to the next round. The Black and Reds kept their opponents away from their goal for the best part of 90 minutes.
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Bayer 04 can go through to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the ninth time tonight, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET) and be in the top 16 clubs in Europe. A good omen: Leverkusen have progressed to the next round after winning the first leg in 20 of their 22 knockout rounds in European competitions to date. For their part, Greek record champions Olympiacos rested several players for last weekend’s league fixture ahead of the play-off second leg at the BayArena and will now do everything in their power to turn the tide with their usual aggressive and high pressing. The discussions on Werkself radio are likely to be just as intense as the battle on the pitch, with commentator Florian Bechholz welcoming honorary captain Stefan Kießling and goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Today’s matchday news.
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With the advantage of the 2-0 first-leg win in the play-offs, the Werkself are looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the home game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich spoke about the position ahead of the match, the visitors' strength at set-pieces and a personnel issue for the home side.
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With a win in the Greek Super League last weekend, Olympiacos achieved success on the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg at Bayer 04 on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Coach José Luis Mendilibar rested many of his regular starters.
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