Now it counts: BVB Women kick off the Regionalliga season

Before the start of the season, head coach Markus Högner looked back on the successful summer preparations: “We were fortunate to be able to start pre-season training and the training camp early. That gave us time to come together as a team and develop a structure that also helped us succeed against Roma at the weekend.” In numerous video analyses, the team examined its initial weaknesses and gradually built greater confidence and intensity. “I particularly liked our composure on the ball and the intensity in challenges, especially in the second half. Now we want to carry the mindset from training and the friendlies into the season,” said Högner.

In the friendly matches, Markus Högner rotated heavily, often bringing on eleven new players at half-time, and gathered important insights: “This year we have even more quality in the squad. Almost every position is covered twice, which creates healthy competition and means we can play and make substitutions at a consistently high level across the board.” 

Meanwhile, defender Yasu Wöhrn will be unavailable to the team for a long period in the upcoming season. On Tuesday evening, fears were confirmed that the 22-year-old suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the friendly against AS Roma. In addition, Marina Scholz is still sidelined with a bruise on the instep and will not be in the squad for the match against Arminia Bielefeld.

On Thursday, the BVB women face an experienced Regionalliga side in Arminia Bielefeld, a team that has consistently been among the top contenders in the Regionalliga West since being relegated from the 2. Bundesliga in 2020/21. Last season, the Bielefeld side finished third and drew 1-1 in both meetings with Borussia. “We’re up against one of the top teams in the Regionalliga. Bielefeld’s back four is tough to break down, but we will approach the game patiently, with courage and plenty of pace,” says Markus Högner.

This year, the Regionalliga West has been expanded to 16 teams as part of the planned introduction of a 3. Liga next year. Alongside familiar teams such as DSC Arminia Bielefeld, Fortuna Köln and Bayer Leverkusen’s U21s, six new sides will also be competing for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga or qualification for the new 3. Liga. These include VfR SW Warbeyen, relegated from the 2. Bundesliga, as well as the five promoted teams (FC Schalke 04, SV Fortuna Freudenberg, Rhenania Bottrop, MSV Duisburg and DJK Südwest Köln) from the Verbandsliga divisions.

The first match of the 2026/27 Regionalliga season kicks off on Thursday (20/08) at 7 pm at Stadion Rote Erde. Tickets for the BVB women’s first home game (standing: €3, seated: €5) are available online in the ticket shop. In addition, Pluto TV will broadcast all BVB women’s league matches live and free of charge.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.