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.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
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Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.
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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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Bayer 04 have named Jorginho, a 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil, an official club legend. He is the second former Werkself player, after Paulo Sergio, to be accorded this special honour. For many years, the former Leverkusen defender has been deeply committed to helping people in need in his home city of Rio de Janeiro. More than 25 years ago, Jorginho launched the Bola pra Frente project, through which he uses the money he earned as a player – including during his time at Bayer 04 – to support children and young people in the favelas in particular. During a trip to Brazil lasting several days, Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04, assured Jorginho of the club’s support for Bola pra Frente for at least another five years.
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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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