Despite the disappointment of losing 2-1, coach Roberto Pätzold has taken a lot of positives from his team’s display against Wolfsburg. “We saw we can absolutely be on a par with one of the league’s top teams. We were the dominant side at times and weren’t far off getting a point,” said the 47-year-old. “But we need to step things up in being clinical. We can be proud of the energy we played with the intensity we demanded of the opposition.”
Hoffenheim finished fourth last season but are yet to get off the mark after two games in 2026/27. However, Pätzold is expecting to face a similar level of quality. “They haven’t had a good start and will definitely feel uncertain in some areas, but we can’t be fooled by that. They’re still a top team that’s had chances to change the result in both games. We want to build pressure from the start and make sure the opposition feels our quality and power. Then we’ve got a good chance of leaving as winners,” the coach stated.
Even the departures of Carlotta Wamser to Manchester City and Ruby Grant to Sporting Lisbon have not altered the Werkself’s ambitions for the season. “Women’s football has now become so fast-paced too that a certain sense of normality has already returned this week. The change may unleash new energy in some members of the squad who stand to benefit from it. Given the short timeframe, we didn’t make any further moves in the transfer market because no option arose that we were all convinced of. In doing so, we’ve also sent a clear signal that we’re absolutely convinced of the quality of the squad,” Pätzold added.
The Werkself are set to have previously injured trio Loreen Bender, Caroline Kehrer and Emily Wallrabenstein available for the game at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion, but Melissa Friedrich (knock) and Amy Wrigge (cruciate ligament) are still out.
Following last weekend’s big game against Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Women face another exciting challenge as they visit Hoffenheim to kick off Matchday 3 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Friday (kick-off: 18:30 CEST).
Show more
Under the slogan ‘Holidays without War’, 60 children from war-torn Ukraine took part in the summer camp organised by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz in Leverkusen and the surrounding area in August. The children aged between 10 and 14 – many of whom have lost their parents in the war – come from the Ukrainian twin towns of Leverkusen, Cologne and Monheim am Rhein: Nikopol, Dnipro and Volodymyr. Bayer 04, Bayer AG and TSV Bayer 04 supported the camp to mark its 10th anniversary, enabling even more children and young people than in previous years to spend a few carefree days’ holiday away from the war in the Rhineland.
Show more
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
Show more
Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
Show more
