Leverkusen beat SC Sand 2-1 in the previous match in the first half of the season. The hope is for the same number of points on Sunday in the game against SC Freiburg. SCF are in sixth place and one point behind the Werkself with a total of 15 points and they have won five of the last ten games. They have only lost two games – one of them against Bayer 04. In the first half of the season, the team from Baden lost 2-1 with two late goals from the Werkself Women on 87 and 90 minutes.
Despite the win on the first matchday of the season Leverkusen’s head coach Achim Feifel has sounded a warning about the potential of the team from the Breisgau: “Freiburg are a good Bundesliga team. From the few goals conceded in the first half of the season it is clear they are very solid at the back and disciplined. They have a clear plan and good shape. They also have a lot of players in their ranks who are very quick in transitions when they win possession.”
The Bayer 04 coach is expecting his team to be aggressive in the first game of the second half of the season. “We have to be compact to win the game and deny Freiburg any space in the middle of the park. We have to defend aggressively and put the opposition under pressure. And play quick counter-attacks as that’s what we’re good at and it can also be a weak point for the opposition. We have to exploit that.”
A win against Freiburg also means going into the winter break with a positive feeling and being able to fully recharge our batteries for the remaining games in the New Year. “I think we’ll all get a good rest. The break due to coronavirus and all the games have placed a heavy burden on the team. I hope they have a good time with their families and come back fit and well so we can have a good build-up to the second half of the season,” said Feifel.
Pauline Wimmer (torn cruciate) and Jessica Wich (broken ankle) are unavailable on Sunday. Barbara Reger is also ruled out with a knee injury. Striker Milena Nikolic has missed training due to back pain. It remains to be seen if she can play against SC Freiburg.
‘Give our all once again’ is the title of the latest edition of the Rasenreport. The matchday programme for the home game against Freiburg is available online free of charge. In addition to information on the game, the current edition also includes Lara Marti choosing between two answers in the Black and Red format. Click HERE for the Rasenreport.
The Black and Reds travel to Gran Canaria in the second half of January for a training camp where Feifel will be working hard on ironing out any weak points in the team. “We will also focus on team building activities and bind the team even closer together. On top of that, we want to produce targets for the second half of the season and step up our game in terms of tactics and fitness,” the head coach explained.
The next match for the Werkself Women in 2021 is on 7 February (kick-off: 14.00 CET). Bayer 04 are away to TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 19, which has been brought forward. That is followed by matchday 13 on 14 February with a game against MSV Duisburg.
More information on the Bayer 04 Women is available in the ELFEN magazine. The fourth edition of the women’s football magazine is out on 17 December. Subjects covered include Anna Klink and her new role as part of the Bayer 04 eSports team and the Bayer 04 Women being the surprise team in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga.
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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