"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.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
Show more
