"Over the last few weeks I have realised what the derby means to the fans as well as the context at the club and beyond. We can't wait for the derby and we are really looking forward to a special atmosphere at the stadium," said Pätzold ahead of his first meeting with FC Köln as a coach at Leverkusen: "We will be a little more motivated as is required to go into a derby with the appropriate focus and ambition."
Despite being eleventh in the table, still without a win and with just two points in the season to date, the 45-year-old coach sounded a warning about underestimating the FC Köln Women. "Just looking at the table it seems like we go into the game as the clear favourites," said Pätzold but he stressed: "They have players of very high individual ability. When they bring the quality of their team onto the pitch they can be dangerous for any opponent." Looking at the table does "not play a big role" in preparation for the clash with the team from Cologne coached by Daniel Weber.
For the first fixture on Matchday 8, the Werkself coach can again count on his returning international players. A total of nine Bayer 04 Women have been away on international duty and only returned to full training at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre during the week. "That makes preparation for a league game, especially one being played on Friday night, incredibly difficult," said Pätzold: "But over the last few months we have taken on board the way we play so that we can go into the match with positive expectations despite the circumstances." Pätzold is also sure that the experience of winning, which several players have had with their national teams, will "inspire great confidence."
For the derby, Pätzold will have to manage without Julia Mickenhagen, suspended after being sent off in the 3-2 defeat against FC Bayern, Synne Skinnes Hansen (thigh), Melissa Friedrich (rehab training) and Paulina Bartz (illness). There is also a question mark over the injured forward Vanessa Haim. Sofia Cava Marin faces a longer spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn cruciate in the friendly against Feyenoord (2-2).
Tickets for the match at the Franz Kremer Stadium are available from the FC Köln online shop HERE. The seated area H is allocated to away fans. The matchday ticket office will be open according to availability. The match will be broadcast live by the two streaming providers MagentaSport and DAZN.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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