Back
22.04.2021Women

Women: ‘Show appropriate reaction’ against Essen

When the floodlights come on at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Friday night and the Bayer 04 Women entertain SGS Essen on matchday 18 in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga (kick-off: 19.15 CEST) it will be the starting shot for the season run-in. There are 04 games left to play this term – and the team under head coach Achim Feifel could move a step closer to achieving the target for the season of finishing in the top half of the table on Friday.
crop_unbenannt_0010-410.jpg

Ahead of the West clash, the primary aim for the Bayer 04 Women is to deal with the setback of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen. “The effects of the game are still evident in our legs. I didn’t think we would have another game this season as difficult to get into as the one against Bremen,” admitted Achim Feifel, whose contract has been extended by three years this week. “We have to put everything into the final run-in that we can. The Bremen match was definitely not a walk in the park, quite the opposite: Teams threatened by relegation throw everything into the mix from mentality through to the will to win to stay in the league. We weren’t prepared for that in Bremen. We can expect the same against SV Meppen and SC Sand.” The coach wants to see “an appropriate reaction” to the recent defeat in Friday’s game against Essen.

“It will be an open game”

Ahead of the clash, SGS Essen, in seventh place, are not too far behind the Werkself Women with a five-point deficit having played one game less. “Essen lost a lot of key players in the summer and they had to put a new team together but they have progressed well over the course of the season. They have young, hungry players who can counter attack quickly, a dangerous attack and a plan of how to play their games,” warned Feifel. “Therefore, I think it will be an open game.”

Matysik set to make comeback

After a long injury lay-off, Sylwia Matysik will be able to make her comeback against Essen. There is a question mark over Henrietta Csiszár who returned from international duty with Hungary with an ankle problem. Definitely ruled out against SGS are Viktoria Pinther (back problem), Verena Wieder (knee), Lara Marti (calf) and Jessica Wich, who has suffered another knee injury.

Live on Eurosport

For the third time in succession, the Bayer 04 Women’s home game on Friday will be broadcast live on Eurosport. The last two games ended in victory – “Perhaps, we have one or two players who might get a boost when the game is on TV. If that’s the case then hopefully it will work again on Friday,” said the Bayer 04 coach with a smile.

RASENREPORT AS E-PAPER

More on the game, the two squads, matchday information and an interview with Gianna Rackow are in the current RasenreportHERE is the e-paper.

 

Related News

Vanessa Fudalla, Claudia Wenger und Vanessa Haim
Women - 20.03.2026

‘Start a run’: Women welcome bottom-placed Jena - special edition ‘50 years of fan clubs’ jersey

The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.

Show more
Caroline Kehrer
Women - 19.03.2026

Bayer 04 Women: Caroline Kehrer and Amy Wrigge sidelined

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.

Show more
Finale DFB-ePokal
eSports - 19.03.2026

#B04eSports: Leverkusen hunger for DFB ePokal trophy

The #B04eSports players now have the next chance to win a trophy. After their elimination in the quarter-finals of the VBL Club Championship Final 2025/26, the German club championship, Marc and Sean Landwehr will compete with seven other teams in the finals of the DFB-ePokal 2026 with prize money totalling €65,000. The "highly motivated" Leverkusen team will face the defending champions FOKUS with well-known influencer Elias ‘EliasN97’ Nerlich in the quarter-finals in Frankfurt on Friday, 20 March (from 18:15 CET). The semi-finals and final will be played on Saturday, 21 March.

Show more
Ticket-Infos DFB-Pokal-Halbfinale
DFB-Pokal - 18.03.2026

Tickets for the DFB Pokal semi-final against FC Bayern

Bayer 04 host Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the 2025/26 DFB Pokal. The tie will be played on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, at the BayArena with the kick-off at 20:45 CEST. Information on ticket sales.

Show more
Alejandro Grimaldo gegen Arsenal
Champions League - 17.03.2026

Werkself knocked out after 2-0 defeat in second leg at Arsenal

Bayer 04 lost 2-0 at Arsenal FC in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg. Eberechi Eze (36') and Declan Rice (63') scored the goals for the Gunners. Despite a big effort – especially in the second half – the Werkself are out of the competition following the 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Show more