The match was the first test after the initial two weeks of training for the Werkself Women following the winter break. The Leverkusen Women’s team were unable to really deal with the opposition in the first half. The team also initially failed in build-up play and the first 45 minutes were marked by Bayer 04 often losing possession. That enabled Werder Bremen to take the lead through Reena Wichmann on 25 minutes. Dora Zeller levelled before half-time with an impressive volley on 42 minutes.
Feifel rang the changes for the start of the second half with Lilla Turanyi being the only player to go the full distance. The second eleven were more successful: greater control of the game, constructive build-up play, compact in defence and more confident on the ball. Kristin Kögel turned the game round with the goal to make it 2-1 on 48 minutes. Bremen – with few chances in the second 45 minutes – did succeed in levelling the scores through Agata Tarczynska (61’) but Kögel hit back five minutes later with the winner.
Achim Feifel: “The first half was very disjointed and I was happier with the second 45. It’s still not how we as we imagined before the start of the season. But it was a good friendly overall.”
First half line-up: Klink – Matysik, Machtens, Rackow, Zeller, Reger, Brüggemann, Turanyi, Csiszar, Garofalo, Marti
Second half: Wellmann – Sahlmann, Kempe, Finken, Kögel, Wirtz, Bücher, Zdebel, Turanyi, Nikolic, Wieder
The friendly came at the end of an intensive week of training in place of the cancelled training camp on Gran Canaria. “They were good and strenuous days of training. We had lots of tough sessions and the intensity this week was equivalent to a training camp,” said Feifel. The focus was on fitness work. The players faced sessions that tested their stamina.
Fun was also on the agenda this week: Team building activities for the Werkself Women – with team meetings taking account of coronavirus restrictions – in groups of five or six taking each other on in quizzes and other games. For example, that meant maintaining certain yoga positions longer or gargled songs being recognised quicker by teammates.
The next friendly is on Sunday 31 January: Second division team Borussia Bocholt from the northern section of Bundesliga 2 are the visitors to Kurtekotten (14.00 CET). The last time the two clubs met was in the pre-season in 2019 – the match ended in 6-0 win for Bayer 04 against the then Regional League side.
“I’m happy we’ve got another friendly ahead of the league restart (on 7 February, 14.00 CET at TSG Hoffenheim, ed.). That will give us another competitive situation where we can try out a few things. This week we will work on technique and tactics and then we can put that into practice,” said Feifel looking forward.
The second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
Show moreContinuity under the Cross: After the successful season in 2024/25 with reaching the final of the VBL Club Championship, the two Leverkusen e-sports players Marc and Sean Landwehr have extended their contracts at Bayer 04 by an additional two years. Marc is thereby in his sixth year and Sean in his third year with the Werkself. Together with e-talent Marcus Hüttemann, who has also extended his stay at Bayer 04 Bayer year, completes the current squad for the 2025/26 season.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed centre forward Christian Kofane. The 18-year-old Cameroonian joins Leverkusen from Spanish second tier club Albacete on a contract to 30 June 2029.
Show moreFirst away to the champions, then at home to a newly promoted club: The Werkself fixtures for the 2025/26 season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga have been confirmed. A week after the season opener away to Bayern Munich in front of 25,000 fans at the Allianz Arena, the team led by coach Roberto Pätzold entertain newly promoted Union Berlin. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Friday. The opening match in Munich is on Saturday, 6 September (kick-off: 17:45 CEST) and the first home game on matchday 2 will be played between 12 and 15 September. The new season, with 14 top-flight teams instead of 12, ends for the Black and Reds with a home game against Werder Bremen on 17 May 2026.
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