With Kramer, Sternrad & Simon: Why Bayer can push FCB all the way

As everyone knows, the DFB Cup doesn’t allow for long warm-up periods. In the round of 16, (Sunday, kick-off at 15:00 CET), FC Bayern Women’s path sees them crossing swords with Bayer 04 Leverkusen – a team who have established themselves as one of the top sides of the Bundesliga in recent years. This Sunday will already be the second clash between Bayern and Bayer in what is still a fledgling season.

For the Munich side, it's all about progressing to the quarter-finals – and the next step on the road to defending the trophy. In 2025 and 2026, Bayern lifted the cup in Cologne; now the aim is for that journey to take them to the final once again. Leverkusen, however, are not coming to Munich merely as a test for the favourites, but with the prospect of knocking the cup holders out of the competition in a single match. The Werkself already showed in the most recent Bundesliga clash that they're capable of doing just that.

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The origins and rise of Leverkusen Women

The history of the Leverkusen women’s team stretches back beyond the founding of what is now the Bayer 04 women’s section. Its roots lie with SSG 09 Bergisch Gladbach, the club that dominated German women’s football, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. Between 1977 and 1989, Bergisch Gladbach won nine German league titles and the DFB Cup three times. In 1990, the club was one of the founding members of the Bundesliga. In 1994, following sporting and financial difficulties, the women’s section moved lock, stock and barrel to TuS Köln rrh. 1874. In 2008, Bayer took over the section and has run it under its own name ever since.

The Leverkusen women first played in the Bundesliga from 2010 to 2017. Following a brief spell in the second tier, they secured a return to the top flight for the 2018/19 season. Since then, the Rhineland-based side have continued to improve. Fifth place in 2020/21 was initially the best finish in the club’s history. Under Roberto Pätzold, the team took its most significant step forward to date. In the 2024/25 campaign, the Werkself picked up 43 points and came fourth, marking their best-ever Bundesliga finish.

Pätzold’s football thrives on pressure and vertical play

Pätzold advocates an attacking style of play. The 47-year-old head coach likes to deploy a high press, winning the ball back quickly in the opposition’s half and driving forward with purpose. The game in mid-September showed just how effective this approach can be. Bayern were in control for long spells at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion and enjoyed 76 per cent possession. However, Leverkusen did not merely defend; they remained dangerous on the counter-attack. After the Munich side’s first equaliser through Vanessa Gilles, the Werkself struck back immediately: Maja Sternad intercepted a misplaced pass and set up Paulina Tomasiak, who scored to make it 2–1. She had already put her side ahead with a deflected free-kick.

It was only thanks to substitutes Edna Imade and Alara that Bayern finally turned the game around. Imade headed home from a Gwinn cross to level the score, before Alara scored the winner in the 88th minute to make it 3–2. Leverkusen had led twice but, despite putting up a spirited fight, were ultimately defeated. So for Bayern, the key in the cup tie will be to deal effectively with Leverkusen’s initial wave of pressure, avoid misplaced passes in the centre and, after losing possession, immediately secure the space behind their own defence.

Watch out for Sternad & Kramer

Summer signing Maja Sternad, who moved to Leverkusen from Bremen, has already shown in the DFB Cup just how valuable she can be in tight matches. In the first round, Bayer 04 faced Bundesliga 2 leaders Viktoria Berlin. After 90 goalless minutes, the underdogs had actually managed to take the favourites into extra time, before Sternad decided the match: the striker came off the bench to score a brace and lead Leverkusen into the round of 16.

Alongside the Slovenian, Cornelia Kramer is the key target player in the Leverkusen attack. This season, the Danish striker has already scored four goals and provided one assist in the league. Kramer is not only a presence in the penalty area, but also works hard off the ball with her willingness to run and can initiate attacks by winning back possession. Bayern will have to close her down early in the centre – because as soon as she can control a pass with her first touch, she becomes an immediate goal threat.

Simon knows Bayern’s game intimately

Carolin Simon brings a personal touch to this cup tie. The full-back moved from FCB to Bayer in the summer and now leads out the Werkself as captain. Simon was sidelined through injury for the first Bundesliga clash of the season. In the cup, she could now face her former club for the first time – and bring to her new team the experience she gained from her years in Munich. Simon is familiar not only with the individual players, but also with the processes, principles and automatic mechanisms of Bayern’s style of play, so her importance to Leverkusen goes far beyond providing defensive cover. She can create width down the flanks, get involved in build-up play and, thanks to her experience, calm things down even when a match threatens to get chaotic.

Bayern have the stats – Leverkusen have memories of tight matches

The head-to-head record clearly favours FC Bayern, who have won 27, drawn one and lost three games. However, this stat is only of limited significance, as the two teams have not yet met in the DFB Cup. So the round of 16 will be the first cup tie between Bayern and Leverkusen.

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How FCB Women’s match against Real Madrid went: