Fine tuning in Bavarian idyll: Bayer 04 Women start summer training camp

The team bus set off early in the morning at 07:30 CEST from the BayArena with 27 women players on board. The destination was Rieden situated 500 kilometres away in one of the most beautiful areas of Bavarian countryside. The Werkself are staying at the Hotel Gut Matheshof this week to work on the key part of the pre-season preparations.

eight sessions, one friendly

With three weeks to go before the start of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga with the opening match away to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, the team are looking to complete the necessary fine tuning at the training camp. There are six training sessions on the pitch with the addition of two sessions on strength and regeneration work. On Sunday afternoon at 17:00 CEST there was the first ten minute walk from the hotel to the training ground of SV Vilshofen.

There is a real test as the sporting highlight of the training camp on Friday, 22 August (14:00 CEST, Stadion Grüne Au, Hof, live stream on Werkself TV and on the Bayer 04): The Werkself play VfL Wolfsburg in the first pre-season friendly against a rival team in the league.

Youth players also have the chance to show what they can do in Rieden: Angelie Martens, Amelie Sosnik, Jana Lindner and Jolina Heltemes are with the squad in Rieden for their first valuable day-to-day experiences with the senior squad. The following players were unable to travel: Selina Ostermeier and Amy Wrigge (both with muscle injuries), Caroline Kehrer (rehab training after knee injury) plus long-term absentee Shen Menglu (torn cruciate).

Hotel in country setting

Away from the pitch, the idyllic surroundings provide an ideal setting for focused preparation. The Hotel Gut Matheshof is in the countryside surrounded by woods and meadows between Regensburg (55 kilometres) and Nuremberg (85 kilometres). For the Bayer 04 Women these are the best conditions to prepare for the new season in peace and calm.

After the return to Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon there will be the two final weeks of training ahead of the start of the Bundesliga campaign. The last game in preparation for matchday one is a friendly against Belgian club Standard Liège on Saturday, 30 August (16:00 CEST, 3 x 45 minutes, Kurtekotten). The new season starts a week later on Saturday, 6 September (17:45 CEST, live on ARD, MagentaSport and DAZN) with the official opening fixture away to the champions of Germany Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.