Following the 5-2 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim and the cup exit against FC Köln (0-1), the Leverkusen women’s team will be looking to get back on track in Emsland to build on the successful start to the season (3 wins, 2 draws, 2 defeats) in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga. The forthcoming opposition are currently five places behind the Black and Reds after two draws at the start of the season were followed by six defeats on the bounce. That means the team coached by Wulf-Rüdiger Müller and with former Leverkusen keeper Laura Sieger in the side are bottom of the table.
Looking at the game against the bottom-p[aced club, Müller’s opposite number Achim Feifel wants see a different team dynamic and the desire to win from his players that was evident at the start to the season. “If we play like we did against Hoffenheim and Köln then our chances aren’t good – including against Meppen,” said the 56-year-old.
The Leverkusen head coach sounded a warning about underestimating SVM. “The Emslanders are strong, good at winning the ball and athletic plus very solid in defence. They have attacking players who are quick in counter-attacks and we’ll have to keep an eye on them,” said Feifel who is expecting an improvement in performance from his team after two defeats: “We have to remember where we were a couple of weeks ago. Every player have to perform to their full potential, play with great passion, show a good work rate and commitment. We’ll have to go all the way and fight for every ball.”
Feifel has a full squad to choose from with the exception of the two long-term injuries and the goalkeeper duo. In addition to Pauline Wimmer, who is currently in rehab after her torn cruciate, Jessica Wich was also sidelined a few days ago. The captain suffered a broken ankle in the home game against Hoffenheim and will probably be out of action for the the rest of this year. Feifel will also have to manage without the two keepers Joyce Prabel (muscular problem) and Anna Wellmann (finger operation) on Sunday.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
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The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
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It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
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Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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