"We are not taking an Olympian approach to the game at FC Bayern according to the motto 'It’s all about taking part.' We’re going there to get a result," said the 45-year old in determined mood ahead of the clash with the star-studded team of the record champions. "The quality of FC Bayern is beyond dispute. That makes it even more important to believe in our own strengths and try to put them into action as best we can."
Herrlich explained the foundations had been laid in the pre-season. "One of our targets in the past five weeks has been to get the team in top condition in terms of fitness." Following on from that, he referred to the recent impressive performance of his team in the 3-0 DFB Cup win at Karlsruher SC: "On a very heavy pitch, we succeeded in setting the tempo, dominating the game and finally earning the victory over 120 minutes. That shows the attitude of our group is absolutely right."
Although Kevin Kampl, Joel Pohjanpalo, Sven Bender, Julian Brandt and Jonathan Tah have had to ease off in training this week for a number of reasons, Heiko Herrlich is "cautiously optimistic that all of them will be fit and able to play." However, there is a major doubt about Kai Havertz who received a painful blow on the knee in last Friday's Cup match and has been sidelined ever since. Herrlich is also prepared for the absence of the youngster: "We’ll make up for missing players as best we can. There are several options both in terms of personnel and tactics." He will definitely have to make do without Tin Jedvaj (shin) and Lars Bender (rehab) for the trip to Munich .
The match away to FC Bayern is the first Bundesliga fixture for Heiko Herrlich as Bayer 04 head coach. He is happy to remember his first away match in Munich. As a 17-year-old, in a Werkself shirt, he came on as a substitute to replace goalscorer Marek Lesniak in the 1-0 win on 21 October 1989. "Of course, it will be a very pleasant experience to go and win the first match at Bayern Munich," added Herrlich. It would be good if history does repeat itself – this time on the touchline.
The Werkself will have the support of 3,700 fans in Munich.
Just twelve days after the head-to-head in the league, the Bayer 04 Women again entertain Turbine Potsdam at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. In contrast to the 3-0 win on Bundesliga Matchday 9, this time it is not about picking up three points. On Friday, 22 November (kick-off: 18.00 CET) it is all about going through to the quarter-finals in the DFB Pokal. Werkself TV will broadcast the match live and exclusively via a free stream.
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The brand-new Bayer 04 Fanzone in the South Stand at the BayArena has opened for all Werkself fans. The official launch of the 700 square metre plus state-of-the-art interactive shopping and world of experience on Wednesday afternoon followed an exclusive event the night before. The symbolic starting shot was made by special honoured guests before several hundred fans were able to gain their first impressions of the numerous products and interactive facilities – and the response has been very positive.
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Twelve Werkself players have been selected for their national teams in the final international break of the year, with the Leverkusen's international players competing in the final group matches in the UEFA Nations League, in qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations. We round up all the results involving Bayer 04 players here.
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Five players in the Bayer 04 Women squad have been selected for the Germany U23s for two international fixtures. That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Tuesday afternoon.
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Bayer 04’s Bundesliga game at home to St. Pauli on Saturday, 7 December will be the next district matchday of the season, with the district of Hitdorf being the stage for numerous activities in the week building up to the fixture against the promoted side.
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