"Of course, the Pokal game is still at the back of our minds, especially because it was very intense and full of twists and turns," recalls coach Roberto Pätzold: "We had plenty of opportunities there to win the game before extra time, but we didn't exploit our attacking superiority enough." Back then, Julia Mickenhagen cancelled out Hamburg's lead with a wonder goal from 25 metres out, and after several missed chances to net the winner, the hosts finally prevailed from the penalty spot. "This time we want to show our quality on the pitch and reward ourselves with three points," said Pätzold.
After the recent 1-0 home win against FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the coach sees potential for improvement, particularly in his team’s attacking play. Although they showed "good approach work in many phases" against Jena and played a controlled game in the final third, they lacked consistency: "We have to manage to show more dominance and be more clinical with our chances."
He expects coach Liese Brancao's team to be "just as motivated as Jena recently", who are twelfth in the table, three points ahead of the relegation places, and urgently need a result in their fight to stay up. Hamburg have shown in the second half of the season "that they want to play constructive football and show a lot of commitment". Accordingly, the coach expects an intense match: "It will be a hard-fought game where nothing will be given to us."
The Leverkusen coach describes the opponents as a dangerous mix: "Hamburg are not your average promoted team, but they play with a typical promoted attitude." Packed with a number of internationals and characterised by a bold attitude, HSV are difficult to play against, but also show fluctuations. "That's where we have to start and consistently bring our strengths to the pitch." Above all, "high intensity" will be crucial. The Volksparkstadion will also see a quick reunion on Monday with attacking player Paulina Bartz, who joined HSV on loan in the winter and recently scored her first Bundesliga goal in Jena.
Bayer 04 will be able to call on Loreen Bender again after she served her one-match suspension.Juliette Vidal and Shen Menglu (both muscular problems) are doubtful, while Caroline Kehrer (knee), Amy Wrigge (torn cruciate), Charlotte Voll (rehab training) and Friederike Repohl (partial ligament tear) are still sidelined.
If you would like to support the Werkself at the Volksparkstadion, you can purchase tickets HERE. Blocks 16a and 17a are allocated to away fans.
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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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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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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