For the second time this season, Roberto Pätzold will not be in the dugout after picking up a fourth yellow card in the 2-0 defeat in Munich. As with the 3-0 victory over Turbine Potsdam in the Hinrunde, the coaching duo of Friederike Mehring and Remzi Kahraman will stand in for the head coach. "Our match plan and the approach to the game are clear and it's down to the players. Who coaches beforehand is of secondary importance and we've also had the same situation in friendlies and in one league match," said Pätzold: "Of course, I'm still annoyed about it particularly about missing out in the derby."
Playing against the team next to bottom, he is demanding three points from his players regardless of his error. "We started a winning run in the Hinrunde after the defeat against Bayern and perhaps we can do that again. Regardless of what is possible for us in the table there is always special motivation against the immediate neighbours," declared Pätzold.
Ahead of the matchday, the gap to Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in positions two and three is five points – a difficult but not impossible margin to make up. "Finishing in the top three is not in our own hands but we want to play our part by winning our games," said the suspended coach: "We will give all we can until it is not mathematically possible."
Given that most of his eleven international players have returned after success in the international break should make this mission achievable. Loreen Bender, Kristin Kögel, Julia Mickenhagen, Selina Ostermeier, Katharina Piljic and Sofie Zdebel won a friendly tournament played over several months with the Germany U23 team in Spain, Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir scored a hat-trick for Iceland in the Nations League against Switzerland . "If you go into an international break on the back of a defeat then a different environment is always helpful," said Pätzold: "It was a good reset for several players and it also helps us that we don't play until Monday and have the squad together for a longer time." He confidently added: "We are very focused and firmly convinced we can come out on top."
Even though FC Köln have only won one of their 18 games this season, the Werkself meet the neighbours full of respect. "I don't think they will just sit back, they have again and again had active phases in recent matches," said Pätzold: "The positions in the table are not so crucial in the derby, Köln have a lot of individual quality in their squad and they are difficult to pin down if you forget about the results. They showed what the team is made of in a hard-fought match in the previous meeting." Nevertheless the maxim for him is: "At the same time they are susceptible due to the few wins and they tend to make mistakes. We want to be uncompromising in exploiting that and do our homework."
Caroline Kehrer (after suspension) and Janou Levels (after muscle problems) return to the squad with Lilla Turanyi (rehab training) and Vanessa Haim (muscle injury) plus Shen Menglu and Sofia Cava Marin (both with torn cruciates) all sidelined. Derby tickets are available in advance from the Bayer 04 online shop HERE as well as from the ticket office on the day of the match.
Werkself Live available here:
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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