This is only the second competitive match this year for the Bayer 04 Women. Due to the postponement of the game against MSV Duisburg due to weather conditions on matchday 13 and the following international break there is a break of one month between the restart and the clash with Turbine Potsdam. "In principle, such a long break is not good as it's difficult to find your rhythm again. You don't really know: Where are we up to now?," Declared head coach Achim Feifel. A justifiable question as, following a successful first half of the season, the Werkself Women suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim after the winter break. "After a hammering like that, the players want to get straight back on the pitch to make amends for the result."
The opportunity now comes somewhat late on Friday night against Potsdam. "We've used the time to work on things and we want to produce a better performance on the pitch," said Feifel. "We all need that against Potsdam. An absolute top performance in other words." FFC are currently fourth in the table with 22 points (having played a game less than Bayer 04). A win for the Werkself, now in fourth place two points behind, would take them above Potsdam – and see the Black and Reds in fourth place in the top-flight for the first time in the club's history.
To achieve that target, “we have to surpass ourselves. Potsdam are a tough opponent and are near the top for a good reason," said the football coach, not least due to the 2-0 defeat in the previous meeting. "They have a good team with lots of young talents but also experienced players like Johanna Elsig or (the former Leverkusen player, ed.) Merle Barth. We need a top-level team performance on Friday – everybody needs to get really stuck in and push each other to the limit."
Not only the opponents present a challenge but also the personnel situation. Feifel has to cope with several players out injured. Captain Jessica Wich is continuing rehab training after coming back from a broken foot, and also working on their own this week was Nina Brüggemann following her muscle injury. Juliane Wirtz is still struggling with a groin injury and Sylwia Matysik has returned with back problems from international duty with Poland. There are also question marks about Melissa Friedrich, Pauline Machtens and Barbara Reger, who all only rejoined full training at the start of the week. In addition, Sandra Jessen is not available from this point due to her pregnancy. Bayer 04 are happy at this great news and wish her all the best for the coming months.
Winter signing Mina Tanaka could make her competitive debut. The Japan international made her first appearance for the Black and Reds in the friendly against second division Gütersloh (7-0) on Sunday and she scored to make it 3-0. "Mina put her foot on the gas. She is still lacking a little in terms of fitness but her last league match was in Japan in December. But she is finding her way now and is developing well. She is ready to play against Potsdam," revealed Feifel.
For this game, the Rasenreport matchday magazine is again available as an e-paper. In addition to the squads and further information on the matchday, Sofie Zdebel gives an interview. Click HERE for the online edition.
Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
Show more
Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
Show more
The Werkself fixture list for the 2026/27 season in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga has been finalised. To kick off the season, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team travel to RB Leipzig between 21 and 24 August. The fixtures were announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday morning. The season will conclude with a home match on 23 May 2027 against newly promoted side Mainz 05.
Show more
On Wednesday evening, Monheim City Council voted against a planning resolution for the Bayer 04 Campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße in Monheim in a secret ballot, with 19 votes in favour, 25 against and one abstention. The legal status of the project therefore remains unchanged.
Show more
