Pre-Match Report
BVB women want to remain patient against Gütersloh
The scenario
Markus Högner is pleased with the clear 3-0 away win against Fortuna Köln last matchday: “We played a really good away game and performed very confidently against an opponent who were highly motivated to trip us up and also have some very good players in their ranks.” Following the match in Cologne, which took place on Friday evening, the women completed a long week of training. Except for the public holiday, which was used for a short break, the BVB women prepared on a daily basis for the final three matches of the Regionalliga season. The motivation of the second-placed team remains high, as the head coach explains: “We are focusing on ourselves, the players are motivated, and in the final matches of the season we want to play as dominantly as we did last weekend.”
The personnel situation
Paula Reimann's workload is still being managed. Last weekend, she made a brief appearance at the Jean-Löring-Sportpark, coming on in the 78th minute. “We're still taking it easy on her in training because of her Achilles tendon,” explains Markus Högner, who sees his captain making good progress. Marina Scholz, who was injured last week with a thigh strain, could be an option for the matchday squad again on Sunday, but the coach wants to wait for the training sessions on Friday and Saturday before making a final decision. Furthermore, Marah Tayeh will miss the upcoming home game due to the flu.
The opponent
In recent weeks, Markus Högner has repeatedly emphasised the crucial importance of focused positioning against defensively strong and deep-lying opponents. FSV Gütersloh, who have conceded only 36 goals this season – only Borussia Dortmund Women, 1. FC Köln, and Arminia Bielefeld have conceded fewer – will put these training priorities to the test. “The most important thing will be that we remain patient,” the head coach stresses, “so that we can put the opponent under pressure with our counter-pressing and ultimately launch effective attacks.”
The young Gütersloh team sits in tenth place in the table with 21 points after 23 games. Having only been relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga last season, the Gütersloh women are still fighting to stay in the Regionalliga West in their final three matches. “Gütersloh have certainly shown that they can be a pain for clubs in the top third of the table,” admits Markus Högner, referring to their narrow 1-0 defeat against the U21 team of 1. FC Köln. In the reverse fixture against Borussia Dortmund's women's team, FSV Gütersloh conceded only two goals at their home stadium; Dortmund ultimately won 2-0
Set piece, header, goal
Besides beautiful goals resulting from open play, the BVB women have increasingly found success from set pieces in recent matches. “Rita Schumacher has a very good feel for how to take set pieces, and in Frederike Kempe we have a strong target man in the air,” Markus Högner praised his goalscorers. “Of course, we train set pieces regularly, but with better weather in the spring, there will be even more time to incorporate the occasional extra session,” the coach revealed, pleased that this training is paying off.
The BVB women's team also want to celebrate goals again in their penultimate home game of the regional league season (17 May, 15:00 CEST) at the Rote Erde Stadium. Tickets will be available in the BVB online ticket shop for the match against the tenth-placed club (standing: € 3, seating: € 5). The match will also be broadcast live and free of charge by Pluto TV.