Dora Zeller, Irina Pando, Lara Marti, Sylwia Matysik, Lisanne Gräwe, Sofie Zdebel and Julia Pollak were the seven Bayer 04 players returning from international duty in the middle of this week. That does not leave much time for the septet to prepare for the next opponents as the Feifel team are in action against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday in the DFB Cup Round of 16. The 19-year-old Pollak will not be in the squad. "Julia returned with muscular problems and is unfortunately unavailable," explained the Leverkusen coach.
Bayer 04 have only lost one game this season. The Black and Reds have picked up 15 points from six games in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga. The last round of the DFB Cup brought a 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig. "Wins obviously boost confidence and inner belief in success," said Feifel before adding: "Nevertheless, we need to keep our feet on the ground and improve in training week by week. In matches it's a matter of carrying on playing together as a team."
That also applies to Sunday as TSG are a top side visiting the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. "They are," underlined Feifel, "an absolute top team with international class. They have a very good squad with a lot of individual quality and recently have also impressed on the European stage." That makes it even more important for the Bayer 04 players to be able to transition from compact defending. "We have to be prepared for anything against Hoffenheim," declared Feifel. "It will depend on us working passionately off the ball and showing aggression."
The coach also demanded his team be clinical in front of goal: "We need determination, high tempo and efficient conversion of chances to be able to hurt the opposition." And then ideally go through to the next round.
Anybody unable to watch the match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium but who would like to cheer on the Bayer 04 Women in front of a screen can do that on the club’s YouTube channel. The broadcast starts at 14.55 CEST.
The highly successful and mutually appreciated partnership between Bayer 04 and head coach Xabi Alonso ends after two and a half years. The 43-year-old Spaniard has led the Werkself to three trophies. Above all, winning the first German league title in the club's history will always be associated with the name of Xabi Alonso. The former world class player, who won many hearts in Leverkusen as a person, now says farewell to Bayer 04. We look back at a fantastic time with the Basque who fulfilled the biggest dream of all Bayer 04 fans together with an outstanding team.
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A few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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A cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be the first Bundesliga club to open and operate a football academy in Brazil. The "Bayer 04 Football Academy São Paulo," led by Bayer 04 club legend Paulo Sérgio, will be established on the Bayer Brazil campus in São Paulo and accommodate up to 300 children and youth ages 5 to 15.
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