Cup clash under floodlights: BVB women host Recklinghausen | OneFootball

Starting point

Still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal, the BVB women are among the top trio in the Regionalliga West after three matchdays. Speaking about the comfortable 3-0 win over DJK Wacker Mecklenbeck at the weekend, head coach Markus Högner said: “I was pleased with the performance, but we need to make better use of moments when such well-organised opponents briefly lose their shape, so that we can play forward even more boldly. But the truth is also that we came up against a very motivated team in strong form. Mecklenbeck are a side that other clubs will also find hard to break down.”

Squad

Aside from the long-term absentees Dana Marquardt, Manuela Zinsberger, Yasu Wöhrn, Emilia Pauls and Mia Scholle, all players are available for the first-round match in the Westfalenpokal. Markus Högner is not ruling out changes to the starting line-up, like those already seen last Sunday.

Opposition

After three clear wins, 1. FFC Recklinghausen currently sit top of the Regionalliga West — so fans at Strobelallee can look forward to a top clash in the cup on Wednesday evening. “The team strengthened excellently over the summer,” said Markus Högner. “Sari Kobayashi alone, who joined 1. FFC from Eintracht Frankfurt’s second team, has already scored five times in this still-young season.” The emphatic victories Schwarzgelb recorded against their neighbours from Recklinghausen last season (6-1 and 6-0) are not something the coach sees as a benchmark: “We’re expecting an established Regionalliga side that has improved significantly not only in attack.”

A special evening

After the frustrating exit against FC Schalke 04 in November 2025, the Borussia women are all the more motivated in their new attempt at the Westfalenpokal. Markus Högner: “Our goal has to be to win this title, not least so that we can compete in the DFB-Pokal again next season.” The home match under the floodlights will also be a very special one for new signing Alex Popp: she once spent her youth career at 1. FFC Recklinghausen and then another year with the women’s team. “We only saw on Sunday that Alex wants to decide every game for herself,” said her coach. “She is and remains a true competitor who wants to win titles — with BVB as well.”

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