After an individual warm-up inside the new gym at Kurtekotten, Pätzold first spoke to the team inside the changing room before they headed out onto the pitch. There were six players missing on Monday. Loreen Bender, who signed a new contract to 2027 before Christmas, is still recovering from an operation on her tonsils, while Caroline Kehrer, Katharina Piljic and Anne Moll were all ill. Synne Skinnes Hansen is still in light training after her thigh injury, with Vanessa Haim completing her rehabilitation programme following a persistent back problem. However, Paulina Bartz did take some part in training after several setbacks had hampered her return in recent months. Goalkeeper Louisa Remien and Paula Schwartze from the U20s and Kirkellis Lillements also joined the squad. Estonian Lillements, who featured in the 4-0 friendly win over Zwolle a few weeks ago, is set to play for the U20s but will also take part in some training sessions with the first team.
This mild January day saw the team begin with various passing and running drills before Pätzold had his players try out some six-v-two scenarios. The focus then switched to positional play before an eight-a-side match to finish the first session of 2025.
Leverkusen play their first game of the new year with a friendly at Kurtekotten against Anderlecht on Friday, 10 January at 2.30pm CET. Two days later the team will head to Spain for an eight-day training camp in Oliva between 12 and 19 January, with two friendly matches also planned. Although the Bundesliga season doesn’t fully resume until Friday, 31 January, when the Werkself visit Eintracht Frankfurt (6.30pm), Bayer 04 do have a competitive fixture the previous week as they play their replayed Matchday 1 fixture away at Freiburg on Sunday, 26 January (12pm). You can find out more about the women’s plans for the winter break HERE.
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
Bayer 04 put in a brilliant performance to beat RB Leipzig 4-1 on Bundesliga matchday 32 and are now fourth in a Champions League spot. The Black and Reds took control of the game right from the start and, with 75 per cent possession at one stage, took a 2-0 lead into the break through Patrik Schick (25’) and Nathan Tella (45+1’). The visitors initially tried to do more after the break, but the Werkself remained determined and Schick scored his second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 (76'). The Red Bulls pulled a goal back through Christoph Baumgartner (80'), but the disciplined Leverkusen side were not rattled - and certainly not Schick: The Czechia international crowned a brilliant display with his third goal shortly before the final whistle to make the final score 4-1.
Show more
In the previous game against RB Leipzig in December last year, the Werkself turned came from behind to win 3-1 and further improved Leverkusen's already strong record against the Red Bulls. Montrell Culbreath stood out with his first goal on his debut for the Black and Reds. While the 18-year-old would certainly like to score a second goal against Leipzig on Saturday night, the attack-minded visitors come to the BayArena in confident mood after five Bundesliga victories in a row. The Nordkurve12 supporters group knows the Werkself will therefore once again be reliant on the vociferous support of the fans, and has once again called for the ‘Finally Red’ campaign in the run-in. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), announced the top male and female selections for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season this week. Bayer 04 striker Vanessa Fudalla is in the starting eleven of the women's "Team of the Season". Alejandro Grimaldo and Aleix Garcia have been selected as bench players in the men's team.
Show more
