The Black and Reds are currently sixth in the table on 20 points just one behind fourth-placed TSG Hoffenheim. "We have four points more than at the same point last season," said head coach Robert de Pauw: "The table is much tighter than a year ago and that's good." At the same time, he said: "Of course, we want to do even better. But the focus is on our performance and not on the table."
In the last two matches, the 1-1 draw against VfL Wolfsburg and the 2-1 win at FC Nürnberg, his team, "gained confidence and defended well even if there was a bit of luck involved," said the coach: "But we can do better on the ball. We want to show that this weekend by finding better solutions and space in our build-ups. In addition, we have to remain compact and be smart at the moments we press."
The fact the Leverkusen Women’s team are still unbeaten in six home games this season, he sees as a "nice statistic" but one not worth dwelling on. "At least, it shows how difficult it is to beat us," said de Pauw.
He says TSG, who secured a 2-2 draw in the previous meeting, have "a lot of quality." The coach sounded a warning about the pace of the visitors in counter-attacks. It depends even more on the Werkself implementing their coaches wishes: "We have to make better decisions and be more settled on the ball," said the Dutchman: "We won't be able to dominate the whole game against Hoffenheim but we want to compete well and create good chances."
Melissa Friedrich, who scored her first goal of the season with a header in Nuremberg, is unavailable for the Bayer 04 Women. The central defender suffered a torn ankle ligament in training and is now sidelined for four to six weeks. On the plus side, Sylwia Matysik and Lilla Turányi return to the squad. Janou Level (hip injury) is still in rehab training.
As usual, the match will be broadcast live on the two streaming services DAZN and MagentaSport. Werkself fans can buy tickets in advance HERE at the online ticket shop or from the matchday ticket office on the day of the game.
We are taking the Day of German Unity and the anniversary as an opportunity to tell a story that befits the subject - that of Falko Götz. The long-serving player, who currently works in scouting at Bayer 04, spoke to bayer04.de about his youth in the GDR, his escape during an away game in Belgrade and how he identifies with Bayer 04.
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With seven points from five games, Union Berlin have made a decent start to the season. Particularly in the wins against VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt, the Irons, who are otherwise known for their strong defence, impressively demonstrated they also have a lot to offer in attack. They will be looking to prove this once again at the BayArena on Saturday, 4 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST, match on Sky and highlights on DAZN). The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Derby time in the Rhineland! After a successful September, the Bayer 04 Women are away to FC Köln on Sunday, 4 October. In the Bundesliga match kicking off at 18:30 CEST at the Franz Kremer Stadium (live on MagentaSport and DAZN), coach Roberto Pätzold is counting on the return of a number of players who have been absent through injury.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Axel Tape for the time being.
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A special tribute to a German football legend: The pay-TV channel Sky has dedicated a documentary worth watching to the current Germany sporting director and former Bayer 04 player and sporting director Rudi Völler. In addition to Völler's impressive career, assessments from contemporaries and very private insights, the 90-minute film also covers his many years of commitment to Bayer 04. "Rudi Völler - The one and only" is now available exclusively on Sky and the associated streaming service WOW.
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