Looking back at last term, there does not appear to be a favourite in this fixture: The hosts won the first meeting in Potsdam 2-0 and the second game saw the Black and Reds win 4-2. Given the latest performance of his team in the narrow 2-1 defeat against SGS Essen, the Bayer 04 head coach Achim Feifel sees the opponents as slight favourites: "They are the main competitors for the two top teams from Munich and Wolfsburg. We're just taking it game by game and we'll see what comes out in the end."
The 57-year-old has focused on basics in this week's training. Feifel explained the reasons: "From when the referee starts the game, everybody has to give 100% for 90 minutes. Unfortunately, that wasn't always the case against Essen . We have to rediscover the necessary aggression and be organised in defence."
As in the game against Essen, long-term injuries Julia Pollak, Jessica Wich and Nina Brüggemann are still sidelined. The captain Kristin Kögel likewise. "She's got problems with her MCL," said Feifel. There is still a question mark over the possible appearance of the Swiss player Lara Marti who, like the above-mentioned trio, also missed out against SGS. Otherwise, the head coach has all the other players available.
Bayer 04 are again offering tickets at the reduced single prize of five euros each for the Essen game. Children under the age of five go in free (with lap ticket). 654 tickets are available. All the seats at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium can be used. There are no standing tickets.
Matchday tickets are available via phone from the Bayer 04 Service Centre on 0049 (0) 214 5000 1904 (Payment methods: direct debit or credit card.) Tickets will be sent out exclusively via email (print@home and eTicket). Tickets are not valid for use on the local transport system. The matchday ticket office opens one hour before kick-off (18.15 CEST). Cash sales only.
Anybody unable to attend the game at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Friday night can watch the Bayer 04 Women's game against Potsdam live. MagentaSport has the broadcasting rights to all Women's Bundesliga matches. The match is on the pay-TV service from 19.15 CEST.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show moreTo all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show moreThe Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show moreIt is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show moreWelcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
Show more