FC Bayern Women “need the three points” in Potsdam

The FLYERALARM Bundesliga finally returns this week and it sees FC Bayern Women go to bottom side Turbine Potsdam on Sunday, 5 February. Kick-off at the Karl-Liebknecht Stadion is at 13:00 CET. Here’s all you need to know about the game.

State of play

Coach Alexander Straus and his team go into the second half of the campaign full of confidence after ending 2022 on a high. Bayern have won their last five league games, while it’s six on the spin across competitions. After a two-week break over winter, Straus and his squad went to Doha for a training camp before the FC Bayern Women’s Tour to Mexico for final preparations for the rest of the season.

The opponent

On paper, Bayern are the superior side compared to opponents Potsdam, who have lost nine and drawn one of their 10 games this season. Having come close to qualifying for the Champions League last year with a fourth-placed finish, Turbine are now at risk of dropping out of the Bundesliga for the first time since 1994.

Match facts

Bayern and Potsdam have met 44 times in the Bundesliga, with FCB narrowly leading the head-to-head record with 19 wins to 18, plus seven draws. However, Turbine’s last victory in this fixture was in 2016. The last draw came last season in December 2021.

Squad update

Straus remains without Giulia Gwinn, who’s still sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury. Jovana Damnjanovic will also miss out on the trip to Brandenburg as she recovers from her muscle tear. Goalkeeper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir also isn’t available as she catches up on training.

Pre-match quotes

Alexander Straus: “Potsdam have definitely had a hard season so far, but I still think they’re better than their results in the first half of the season reflect. It’s generally the same for us in every game, we take on every team with respect. I trust the quality of our players, and if we play at our highest level – like we always have to – then we’ll win. It’s never about the opponent, it’s only about us.”

Mala Grohs: “We need the three points, like we need the three points in every game. Obviously there’s always a bit of a surprise straight after the winter break. Potsdam have also worked hard to go again, and we need to be at it. We can’t underestimate the opposition, who obviously don’t want to stay where they are down the bottom of the table. It’ll definitely be a hard game.”