"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.
Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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Bayer 04 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. The design, developed by kit supplier New Balance, combines the city’s colours with symbols that have defined Leverkusen and Bayer 04 for generations.
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Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Montrell Culbreath for the start of the 2026/27 season. The forward injured his foot injury in yesterday’s preseason friendly against Spanish top-flight side Sevilla (2–1), which rules him out of action for the time being. Culbreath’s diagnosis is not yet complete; further examinations are to follow in the coming days.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
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