‘Compete with the best’: Women away to league leaders Bayern Munich

The leading group in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga are tightly packed with five games to play. Bayern Munich are top on 44 points six ahead of the rest but they are followed by Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Wolfsburg (both on 38) and Leverkusen (36) in close contention. "We want to keep in touch with the teams above us right to the end to at least have a final showdown on the last matchday in Wolfsburg," said Pätzold: "Before that there are several challenges but the other teams also face difficult games."

In the race for a top spot, every point at the league leaders, who are unbeaten at home in 42 Bundesliga games, would be a decent result. "We want to compete with the best and now we have the opportunity to do so. We've had our chances in all our games so far and we’re confident that we can do it again," said Pätzold before adding: "We will have to withstand the opposition having lots of possession in certain phases and suffer. But we've successfully done that several times before."

Not least in the unlucky 3-2 defeat in the reverse fixture after being 2-1 up. With an extra player, FCB scored the winner in the final minutes inflicting the first defeat of the season on the Werkself. "We would like to adhere to the way we played in that game but also be more courageous," declared Pätzold.

In contrast of the Bayer 04 Women, who had a two-week break after the 6-0 victory over Werder Bremen, FC Bayern had two games in the Champions League quarter-finals. The team led by coach Alexander Straus lost 2-0 and 4-1 to Lyon. "Going out will definitely prey on their minds but it was clear to see early on that they couldn't make it. Accordingly they turned their attention to Sunday," said Pätzold: "They've won all their Bundesliga games this year and will clearly be the favourites. But we have rediscovered our former strength and are having the best season in the history of our team. With the spirit from the previous meeting, we want to show that we can push them all the way."

without Kehrer, Turanyi and Levels

The coach will have to manage without some of his key players. Caroline Kehrer (suspended), Lilla Turanyi (ill) and Janou Levels (muscular problems) have not travelled and Shen Menglu and Sofia Cava Marin (both with torn cruciate ligaments) are also sidelined. Katharina Piljic returns to the squad after her ankle injury and Vanessa Haim, who has been out for months due to a back problem, is back in full training. "We have great confidence in everybody in the team," said Pätzold: "Everybody is highly motivated for the game against Bayern Munich. We need individual and team top performances regardless of who is on the pitch."

The match at the FC Bayern Campus is already sold out.