A win over already relegated Duisburg could also benefit the Black-and-Reds in the table - depending on how their rivals fare. Bayer 04 are sixth in the standings with 28 points, four less than fifth-placed SGS Essen, who can secure their position two hours earlier on Saturday against 1. FC Köln. If SGS slip up, Leverkusen need to take advantage.
"It's not in our own hands anymore," said de Pauw. "We therefore need to make sure we win our own game and ideally apply pressure on Essen." After the frustrating 1-0 defeat at RB Leipzig and the 2-1 loss to newly crowned champions FC Bayern Munich, the motivation to take maximum points from the last two fixtures is high. Bayer 04 Women end the season at home to SV Werder Bremen on Monday 20 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST).
Even though MSV have collected just four points in 20 league games this season, the Dutch coach is warning his team: "Despite relegation, Duisburg will be motivated, particularly as it's their last home match. You saw that already in their last game at Bremen," he said, referring to the 4-2 defeat last weekend. "They don't look like a team who are relegated and there are no easy games in the league anyway."
That puts even more onus on Leverkusen's technical quality. "We're up against a very combative team, who like to press early," added de Pauw. "We need to find ways to put them under pressure regardless. We want to play our typical Bayer 04 football and maybe press a bit higher than against Bayern. Our approach in possession will be no different, though."
In this undertaking, no major changes are expected to the line-up. "The best players who have trained the best will play," said the coach. Sofie Zdebel remains a doubt following her tonsilitis, while Charlotte Voll (rehab after shoulder injury) and Melissa Friedrich (ankle ligament tear) have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
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In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
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