The last-minute win over Hamburger SV on Wednesday left Leverkusen with an excellent record of 19 points from the first nine league games of the season. "It's a quality of this team that they never give up and then manage to find something extra in stoppage time," said Pätzold. "The three points are very valuable, but after two days off that game is behind us. We're going into this significantly more rested than on Wednesday. Our squad doesn't currently allow for much rotation, so we're thankful for the match being on Monday. We'll need all our strength and energy to hold our own at Freiburg."
The fact it's three years since the Werkself last lost to Freiburg, currently in seventh place with 13 points, is of little importance to Pätzold. "With the amount of personnel changes, statistics that go back over seasons are relative and have no relevance for us. Freiburg have found their feet well in the season and have great qualities particularly in attack. Even the last three matches, which they've lost, could have all turned out differently," continued the coach. "They were the dominant side and had a lot of chances, but weren't effective enough. So, in spite of recent results we're warned."
The Bayer 04 boss knows the strengths of the opponents: "They're a settled and very hardworking team, where you can identify patterns and processes. We expect a tight game that will be decided by little details." That's where the two wins in the games against Hamburg (2-1) and FC Carl Zeiss Jena (4-2) could benefit Leverkusen. "With the confidence from the last two weeks, we want to work the momentum in our favour and crown a busy week with the third win," declared Pätzold.
After her two-match ban, Charlotte Voll will return between the posts in the continued absence of injured captain Friederike Repohl. "Charly is our number two and will return in goal. Anne Moll filled in brilliantly for her when required," confirmed Pätzold. Centre-back Lilla Turanyi is also available again after suspension, while Juliette Vidal and Ruby Grant return to the squad after their recent knocks. Carlotta Wamser won't travel to Freiburg, though, as she's still nursing an injury. Cornelia Kramer (muscle injury) and Shen Menglu (cruciate ligament) remain sidelined, too.
Bayer 04 host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 host Eintracht Frankfurt at the BayArena on matchday 14 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The schedule for the game remains to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27
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“As far as mentality and determination are concerned, we have nothing to reproach ourselves for,” Robert Andrich said up after the first home defeat for the Werkself this term. In terms of their play, too, the Black and Reds put in a respectable performance for long stretches of this intense and physical match, outperforming VfB Stuttgart in most areas. It was only in terms of efficiency in front of goal that the Swabians had the edge over the Werkself. Head coach Carles Martínez wants to learn from this so that, in future, they can “win this sort of match too”. The Werkself review.
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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 working 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 personal 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…
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