14.
6:47 p.m
..but the Cologne women are well sorted and Beck heads Kögel’s corner from the right at the first post safely out of the box.
13.
6:47 p.m
The guests establish themselves well in the opponent’s half and challenge Cologne on the defensive – the ball is repeatedly processed with two contacts and the FC just runs after the ball. At the end the first corner of the game jumps out..
11.
18:44
Leverkusen plays it to the end with determination! Vilhjálmsdóttir’s long-range shot is blocked, Merino directs the rebound to the right side, where Skinnes Hansen brings the ball sharply inside – but the ball rushes past friend and foe and rolls out behind the second post.
10.
18:42
Now the FC takes things more calmly with the ball at their feet and lets the equipment run well through their own ranks. But Bayer stands securely and doesn’t create any gaps in the defense.
7.
6:39 p.m
Leverkusen tries to keep the ball in their own ranks after winning the ball, while Cologne tries to move forward more quickly. So far, however, both teams have been very stable defensively, so there is still no approach to scoring.
4.
6:37 p.m
After just a few minutes of play it becomes clear that this is a derby! The intensity is there right from the start and both teams don’t avoid the duels. However, the game is currently a bit hectic in midfield.
2.
6:35 p.m
For the hosts, the young Padilla-Bidas moves into the front line, with Zeller moving firmly to the wing.
1.
18:34
The derby is on! Leverkusen plays somewhat unusually in light blue jerseys, Cologne plays in completely white.
1.
6:33 p.m
Game start
6:19 p.m
The balance from the last six games against each other is maximally balanced: each team won two games each and had to settle for a draw twice. The slight underdog in today’s game is FC, who want to rely on the home advantage, as coach Daniel Weber emphasized: “We want to show the virtues from our first two home games, aggressive against the ball, a high pace with the ball. We also want the atmosphere in the stadium for us.”
6:07 p.m
Bayer would probably have started with the same starting line-up as against Freiburg, but Turányi, Senß and Karczewska are all missing regular players in all parts of the team due to illness. Their positions will be taken over by van Deursen, Friedrich and Merino. The loss of Karczewska is particularly serious, as the Pole has found her way around the Werkself very well and has already scored four goals. The hopes today are likely to lie with another newcomer: Vilhjálmsdóttir also scored four times and contributed two more assists.
5:58 p.m
Cologne coach Daniel Weber is making three changes compared to the game in Bremen, two of which affect the hosts’ back four: Hechler and (not in the squad) and Donhauser (bench) are replaced by Vendelbo and Uebach. On offense, Meßmer rotates to the bench and Zeller is new. It is quite possible that Wiankowska will move from the wing to the front and Zeller will take over the position on the wing. With Uebach, Beck and Zeller, three former Bayer players are on the field for Cologne.
17:52
Where do the two teams stand after four games? FC has a mixed record with two wins and two defeats and lost 3-0 to Werder Bremen women last weekend. The Cologne team has six points in their account before this match day – that’s enough for seventh place in the table. Bayer has only lost the opening game against industry leader VfL Wolfsburg 3-0, followed by two wins and a draw against TSG Hoffenheim. With the last 3-0 win against SC Freiburg, Leverkusen jumped to fourth place.
5:35 p.m
Welcome to the start of the 5th matchday of the Women’s Bundesliga! The women’s Rhine derby between 1. FC Köln and Bayer 04 Leverkusen begins at 6:30 p.m.