Bayer 04 Women return to action for 2025 with training at Kurtekotten

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.

Anderlecht friendly, camp in Spain

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.