"We're expecting a very difficult challenge," said Pätzold: "Hoffenheim have demonstrated they have one of the best attacks in the league. We proved last season that we can stand up to them. We're travelling there with confidence and we want to work to get a result to get us back in touch with the leaders." After last Sunday's abandoned derby at the Franz Kremer Stadium in Cologne, the rearranged fixture is yet to be confirmed. Leverkusen are currently one point behind TSG in sixth place with nine points from four games. Hoffenheim have scored 13 goals in their five games - the second-best tally in the league behind leaders VfL Wolfsburg (20).
For Pätzold and his team, the match in Sinsheim also marks the start of a crucial phase. After the clash with TSG, league leaders VfL Wolfsburg visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium a week on Sunday (19 October, 17:15 CEST, tickets are available HERE). "The league has already shown several times this season that there are no guaranteed points and that everything has to be hard-earned," said Pätzold: "One of our goals for the season is to pick up points against the top teams in the league. Hoffenheim had an impressive Rückrunde and have built on that with their good start to this season. Like the game against Wolfsburg, the match is therefore an important benchmark of our development."
The 46-year-old has great respect for the TSG attack in particular. "Hoffenheim lacked a bit of effectiveness last season, but it's completely different now," said Pätzold: "They are incredibly efficient, play an attacking transition game, generate a lot of pressure on the ball and get a lot of players into dangerous areas. They combine many elements that also characterise our style of play - from a similar basic structure."
He does not want to place too much emphasis on the Werkself being 1-0 down in Cologne when the game was abandoned. "The early goal we conceded rattled us a bit," said Pätzold: "Even though it certainly wasn't one of our best games, we gradually worked our way back into the match, were better organised and we had more control. I definitely think we could have turned the game round."
Melissa Friedrich and Ida Daedelow, who have been sidelined due to injury, are available again. Pätzold will have to manage without Cornelia Kramer (muscle injury) and Shen Menglu (cruciate ligament rupture) and Amy Wrigge who is unavailable due to illness. Anyone who wants to support the Werkself at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium can obtain tickets HERE or from the matchday ticket office.
New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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The Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog, you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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