"Over the last few weeks I have realised what the derby means to the fans as well as the context at the club and beyond. We can't wait for the derby and we are really looking forward to a special atmosphere at the stadium," said Pätzold ahead of his first meeting with FC Köln as a coach at Leverkusen: "We will be a little more motivated as is required to go into a derby with the appropriate focus and ambition."
Despite being eleventh in the table, still without a win and with just two points in the season to date, the 45-year-old coach sounded a warning about underestimating the FC Köln Women. "Just looking at the table it seems like we go into the game as the clear favourites," said Pätzold but he stressed: "They have players of very high individual ability. When they bring the quality of their team onto the pitch they can be dangerous for any opponent." Looking at the table does "not play a big role" in preparation for the clash with the team from Cologne coached by Daniel Weber.
For the first fixture on Matchday 8, the Werkself coach can again count on his returning international players. A total of nine Bayer 04 Women have been away on international duty and only returned to full training at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre during the week. "That makes preparation for a league game, especially one being played on Friday night, incredibly difficult," said Pätzold: "But over the last few months we have taken on board the way we play so that we can go into the match with positive expectations despite the circumstances." Pätzold is also sure that the experience of winning, which several players have had with their national teams, will "inspire great confidence."
For the derby, Pätzold will have to manage without Julia Mickenhagen, suspended after being sent off in the 3-2 defeat against FC Bayern, Synne Skinnes Hansen (thigh), Melissa Friedrich (rehab training) and Paulina Bartz (illness). There is also a question mark over the injured forward Vanessa Haim. Sofia Cava Marin faces a longer spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn cruciate in the friendly against Feyenoord (2-2).
Tickets for the match at the Franz Kremer Stadium are available from the FC Köln online shop HERE. The seated area H is allocated to away fans. The matchday ticket office will be open according to availability. The match will be broadcast live by the two streaming providers MagentaSport and DAZN.
Mouth open, swab in, become a donor – and then get behind the Werkself! The charity organisation Nordkurve karitativ, in partnership with DKMS, are holding a stem cell donor registration event at the home game against VfB Stuttgart on Friday, 1 November (kick-off: 20.30 CET). The aim is motivate as many fans as possible to register as a stem cell donor with DKMS.
Show moreThe first outing of the Germany U23 side, the battle for Euro spots and two goalscorers at international friendlies: Nine Bayer 04 Women have just been away on international duty for their national teams. Bayer04.de brings you the international round-up of matches involving Leverkusen women.
Show moreBayer 04 comfortably mastered the second round of the DFB Pokal to deservedly progress to the Round of 16. In the home tie against second division SV 07 Elversberg, Patrik Schick paved the way to victory in the first ten minutes with a lightning brace and Aleix Garcia scored an impressive first goal for the club. In addition, a homegrown Leverkusen player made his first-team debut. The Werkself review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04’s 3-0 win against SV 07 Elversberg in the 2nd round of the 2024/25 DFB Pokal…
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