The DFB Cup semi-final beckons: the women from Bayer Leverkusen and SGS Essen will meet in the round of the last eight. A duel at eye level is expected – in front of a big crowd.
With a 3-2 win against VfB Stuttgart, the men of Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. And that’s exactly where the women of the factory association want to go. To do this, they have to defeat their Bundesliga rivals SGS Essen on Tuesday evening (6.30 p.m.).
Just like with the men, it should be a close game this time too. At least that’s what a look at the table suggests: Both teams are separated by just two points – the Rhinelanders are in sixth place with 20 points, the SGS are in eighth place with 18 points.
“I’m assuming it will be a game of equals. Leverkusen have a really good team and of course they want to get as far as possible in the cup, just like us,” believes Essen’s head coach Markus Högner. “The cup is always a good opportunity to achieve very good results in a competition, especially for the teams that are placed in midfield in the league.”
Bayer women on the big stage
The Werkself are hoping for a good dose of extra motivation from a change of location. Unlike usual in the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, the cup game against Essen will be played in the Bayarena. “The players will be even more motivated than they already were by the attractive cup draw. Many have dreamed of playing in a big arena since they were little. Now the time has finally come,” said Bayer coach Robert de Pauw, looking forward to the game .
Of course, Bayer is hoping for the support of numerous fans. However, it’s not about “achieving any records,” as Thomas Eichin, head of the youth and women’s department, explained. Rather, they want to “offer women a platform in this important game and thus bring them further into the spotlight.”
Bayarena doesn’t bring back good memories
It is the second time in the history of the Bayer women that they will play a game in the Bayarena. However, the memory of the premiere in November 2009 is not a very good one. Back then, the Werkself suffered a 2-0 defeat against FCR 2001 Duisburg in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup in front of 3,000 fans. From Bayer’s point of view, things should of course turn out differently this time: “We want to take advantage of the great opportunity together to move into the next round,” said Leverkusen captain Elisa Senß.
But of course that’s what SGS Essen also wants, having already shown in the first leg of the Bundesliga that they don’t need to hide from Bayer. Although the game ended in a goalless draw, Högner’s team was closer to victory than the Werkself for long stretches. Annalena Rieke’s unfortunate hit on the crossbar is certainly still a painful memory for the SGS fans.
But on Tuesday evening it starts from scratch again, says SGS coach Högner: “We played a great game in the league in Leverkusen and also showed a strong performance in Munich recently. But in the cup it’s all about getting ahead for both teams, Talk about winning. It’s going to be a 50-50 game.” Just in front of a big backdrop.
