After the exciting top match against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-2) on matchday 16, the Werkself Women are away to relegation-threatened Werder Bremen on Sunday after a three-week break due to the DFB Cup and the international break. “The long break doesn’t necessarily play into our hands. We’ve lost our match rhythm because of that,” complained Bayer 04 head coach Achim Feifel.
Ahead of matchday 17, his team are fifth in the table on 29 points level with fourth-placed Turbine Potsdam. “The aim is to build on our performances in the home games against Potsdam and Frankfurt,” said Feifel in setting out the approach to the game against Werder Bremen. “It will depend on us being compact in defence and playing in transition with pace. When we have the ball we’ll have to control the match with our passing game. We want to create chances and be clinical.”
It remains to be seen how Werder will line up as the Bremen team go into the season run-in with a new coach. Thomas Horsch replaced Alexander Kluge as head coach at the start of the month. The 52-year-old will be in charge of the Green and Whites to the end of the season. The trigger for this decision was the 3-2 defeat at fellow promoted club SV Meppen on the last matchday. The managerial change has no effect on the preparations of the Werkself Women for the game. “The change of coaches has little relevance to our preparations. The crucial factor will be to focus on ourselves and impose our style of play,” said Feifel.
The Bayer 04 coach is expecting a “difficult game against an opponent who will be highly motivated. They need points to stay in the league.” Bremen are currently ninth in the table and are five points above the relegation spots. Achim Feifel is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the team from Bremen: “Bremen have a strong attack and are always capable of scoring a goal. On the other hand, they are vulnerable in defence and they have conceded a lot of goals.”
In addition to the injuries to Viktoria Pinther (back problem) and Verena Wieder (knee), Lara Marti is also unavailable at the weekend. The Switzerland international suffered a calf muscle injury against Czechia and faces several weeks on the sidelines. And the three Hungarians Dóra Zeller, Lilla Turányi (both muscular problems) and Henrietta Csiszár (ankle ligament injury) have returned from the international fixtures with injuries and are unavailable for the Bremen game. “Injury has ruled out four players who have all been on top form recently,” said Feifel. However, there is a bright spot: Sylwia Matysik, who had been battling with back problems for weeks, was able to return to full training this week. But Sunday’s game comes too soon for the Pole.
Bayer 04 fans can support the team again this weekend. Bayer 04 will broadcast the Werkself away game at Werder on the club’s YouTube channel.
HERE is the link to the live stream. The broadcast starts at 13.45 CEST on Sunday.
Join us and tune in.
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