De Pauw’s approach in his penultimate home game as Bayer 04 coach is clear. “They’ve planned a party. We’ve got something against that. Decisive games like this aren’t easy because there’s a special pressure,” said the Dutchman, also adding with a grin: “It’d also be nicer for them to secure the title at home.” Memories of 20 May 2023 are providing encouragement for him and his players: “Last year we delayed the title celebrations. We believe we can do it again.”
The fact that Bayern left no doubt in who would win as they prevailed 3-0 in the reverse fixture, when de Pauw was ill and his assistant Jessie van den Broek stepped in, does not unsettle the Dutchman. “We didn’t do that bad that day. Bayern just allowed so little after the first goal. But still, there were moments where we came back. Unfortunately, we weren’t clinical, which you need against a top team like them.” He’s also aware: “We won’t get many chances this time either.”
The quality of the champions-elect is indisputable. Alexander Straus’s team have won their last 11 competitive fixtures in a row and haven’t lost since 20 December in the UEFA Women’s Champions League away at Ajax (1-0). In the Bundesliga, the Munich team are still unbeaten with 16 wins and three draws. “They’re on an excellent run and in a flow. As well as their class in open play, there’s also their strength at set pieces,” de Pauw said in recognition.
Nevertheless, Bayer 04 (28 points) want to keep pace with Essen (29) in the race for fifth place. The 1-0 loss at promoted RB Leipzig should just be a small blip. “We only allowed one chance there, and it resulted in a goal. As well as the clinicalness required, we also lacked some luck,” de Pauw stated. He’s expecting a different sort of game against the confident league leaders. “Bayern will apply pressure early, but it means we’ll get space. We trust in our defence, want to stay in the game as long as possible and show our own quality from set pieces.”
Synne Skinnes Hansen is back in the squad following her thigh issue. Charlotte Voll (shoulder) and Melissa Friedrich (ankle) are still out. There are still tickets available to buy online or on the gate.
Bayer 04 and the Plastiks company are working together. The sustainable organisation is committed worldwide to the reuse of waste and acting against waste pollution. As part of this cooperation, Bayer 04 is working with the green mining organisation in São Paulo, the most populous city in South America and hometown to club legend Paulo Sergio, where the waste recycling rate is currently only around 3%.
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After the warm reception on Tuesday for the Bayer 04 delegation led by Simon Rolfes in São Paulo, there were two events where contact with the local population was of special significance.
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A training course for external coaches covering age groups U8 to U13 on 'Effective coaching in junior football' was held at the BayArena this week. The course, with this initial event ahead of a series of training units, was aimed at coaches and sporting management of clubs in the area of Leverkusen. It was very well received.
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The dates for the final two Bundesliga fixtures of the year for the Bayer 04 Women have been confirmed: The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed details for the two games at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Matchdays 11 and 12 on Tuesday afternoon.
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To gain access to the stadium as a member of the media on Werkself home matchdays you need accreditation from Bayer 04. From now, you can submit the application for accreditation exclusively via our online registration form at bayer04.de.
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