The Leverkusen Women made a successful start to the new season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga last Saturday with a hard-fought 3-2 away win at SC Freiburg. A week later, the league takes a break with the Werkself progressing to the first round of the DFB Pokal with a bye. "We are taking this game as seriously as all other competitive matches," declared Pätzold: "The first round of the Pokal showed that no opponent should be underestimated. Karlsruher have a long tradition in women's football and they dealt with their first challenge very comfortably." The team from Baden beat fellow Regional League side SV 07 Elversberg 5-0.
One more reason for the Bundesliga team to be wary of the opponents playing two tiers below Bayer 04. "Karlsruher have exciting attacking players with strengths in one-on-ones and finishing. They have top training conditions and operate at a very decent level as I know from my time at the Baden Football Association," said Pätzold: "We assume the opponents will sit back, we will have a lot of possession and will have to find solutions to overcome a defensive bulwark. But the bigger focus is, exactly as in the league, on our own strengths."
To reduce the belief of the hosts in a win as much as possible, the coach has made a clear call to his team. "We want to avoid transition situations by efficiently building our attacks and finishing them. As favourites we can otherwise get into a situation where the opposition can hurt us," said Pätzold: "Instead, we want to patiently show our technical quality on the pitch and bring our physical superiority into play. We want to ensure that it doesn't become a typical Pokal tie but rather that we produce a dominant performance. At the same time, we have to be prepared to be able to deal with unforeseen situations."
The Leverkusen Women are well aware of the significance of the DFB Pokal. "There's no quicker way to get to a final. It's a huge chance for our players. A lot is possible in a few games, which are partly decided on form on the day," said Pätzold. "We are ambitious enough to want and to be able to dream. But to do that we first have to overcome the first hurdle."
As in recent weeks, Charlotte Voll, Melissa Friedrich (both training deficit), Paulina Bartz (illness), Sofie Zdebel and Loreen Bender (both U20 World Cup) are unavailable for this match. Travelling fans who want to support the Werkself at the Arthur-Beier-Stadion can buy tickets online HERE or from the ticket office at the ground on matchday. Werkself TV will broadcast the match live from 11.55 CET live and exclusively HERE on a free stream.
Bayer 04 will be preparing young talents for a potential sporting career in an even more systematic way in future. The club is breaking new ground to help develop their academic, social and personal skills as well. With the ‘Haus der Talente' or 'Talent House’, Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH is creating a new centre for the development of young athletes in a central location in Leverkusen. Once completed – expected to be in the summer of 2027 – the project will be run in partnership with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V.
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Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-3 loss against Werder Bremen on the 26th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
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Bayer 04 Women have finished in fifth place after the best Bundesliga season in the club's history in terms of points. Roberto Pätzold's side went down 3-1 at home to SV Werder Bremen on the final matchday. With 46 points and 15 wins, they've bettered the previous record campaign of 2024/25. Despite periods of pressure, Cornelia Kramer's 73rd-minute strike was not enough at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion, and the Werkself miss out on European qualification despite a strong end to the season.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed a conract extension with home-grown talent Sofie Zdebel by a further year ahead of schedule. The 21-year-old Germany U23 international will stay at the club until 30 June 2028.
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