"Our aim is to solve this challenge. As the favourites, we will go into this away match with maximum respect and focus. Our target is clearly to go through to the next round," said Achim Feifel, Bayer 04 Women's team sporting director.
Following the last first round tie between the two second division clubs FSV Gütersloh 2009 and FC Union Berlin (2-3 on penalties) the former Germany international Verena Schweers under the guidance of the two-time World Cup winner Renate Lingor drew the 16 knockout games. The twelve top-flight sides from the 2023/24 season plus the two teams promoted from the Women's Bundesliga 2 had a bye in the first round. The 32 teams were divided into North and South regional groups.
The Round of 16 will be held between 22 and 24 November with the quarter-finals following on 11 to 13 February 2025. The semi-finals will be played on 22 and 23 March 2025 with the final again being staged at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne as in previous years, this time on 1 May 2025.
The Werkself are currently in the final phase of their pre-season. The last friendly against Fortuna Sittard will be played on Friday, 23 August (kick-off: 14.00 CEST) at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre with four 30 minute quarters. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold start the new Bundesliga campaign week later with an away game at SC Freiburg on 31 August (kick-off: 14.00 CEST). That will be followed by the second round tie in the DFB Pokal. The full summer itinerary for the Women can be found HERE.
DFB POKAL SECOND ROUND TIES
Arminia Bielefeld vs Werder Bremen
FC Union Berlin vs RB Leipzig
SV Meppen vs FC Carl Zeiss Jena
FC Viktoria Berlin vs FFC Turbine Potsdam
DJK Wacker Mecklenbeck vs SGS Essen
Hertha Berlin vs VfL Wolfsburg
MSV Duisburg vs Hamburg SV
Kieler MTV vs VfL Bochum
Karlsruher SC vs Bayer 04
FC Nürnberg vs SC Freiburg
SC Sand vs Bayern Munich
FFV Erfurt vs Eintracht Frankfurt
SV Hegnach vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs FC Köln
FSV Mainz 05 vs Kickers Offenbach
SC Fortuna Köln vs SV 67 Weinberg
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
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Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
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