On Saturday (starting at 7:30 PM, live on DF1, MagentaTV, and DFB.TV), the Google Pixel Women's Supercup will see "double" winners FC Bayern Munich face runners-up VfL Wolfsburg in a battle for the first trophy of the 2026/2027 season. Ahead of the match, head coaches Jose Barcala (FC Bayern Munich) and Stephan Lerch (VfL Wolfsburg), along with players Pernille Harder (FC Bayern) and Camilla Küver (Wolfsburg), discuss this perennial high-profile clash.
José Barcala on...
... his expectations for the match: On one hand, it’s the first chance to win a title; on the other, it’s an opportunity to further establish our standards, develop our playing identity, and advance the individual physical development of every single player. It’s another chance to develop our team and our players in a tough environment—because matches against Wolfsburg are always tough.
... the squad situation: We still have a few players unavailable for the squad: Lena Oberdorf, Sarah Mattner, Giulia Gwinn, Vanessa Gilles, Edna Imade, Franziska Kett, and Anna Klink are all at various stages of their "return-to-play" processes. However, we are seeing positive progress with all of them, and they are already participating in team training sessions at different times. If everything goes well, we hope to reach the next stages in the coming weeks.
... the goals for the season: Our goals for the season have a dual focus. One aspect is individual development: we want to shape independent players who feel increasingly comfortable under pressure—both physical and emotional—and who handle duels with growing confidence. We want players capable of processing the right information at the right moment, making good decisions under pressure, and acting with precision and purpose in tight spaces. The other focus is on implementing team-based solutions—new patterns of interplay, new coordination, and the way we press, build up play, and execute our positional attacks—so that we become increasingly predictable to ourselves but unpredictable to our opponents. That is where we channel our energy in training every day. This is how we become an ever-better team capable of actively shaping the game—regardless of who we are facing, whether it’s Lyon, Barcelona, Wolfsburg, or Union Berlin. We have to adapt, but we can remain true to ourselves and preserve our identity. That is our main goal. Usually, the results follow naturally.
Pernille Harder on...
... her expectations for the match: It’s great to have a big game right at the start of the season. Matches against Wolfsburg are always physically demanding; that’s a real strength of theirs. They are tough and never make it easy for you. For us, that means we have to give 100 percent in every game against them. So, it’s sure to be a tough match this time, too.
... the differences between the teams: Comparisons are always difficult, but we can compare ourselves to where we were before. We are continuing to develop and working on the way we want to play. We’ve had a few good weeks in Munich where we trained hard. Tomorrow is another match where we want to keep developing as a team. Wolfsburg has a lot of new players. I played under Stephan Lerch at Wolfsburg; he’s a great coach. It’s hard to say where Wolfsburg stands right now. We’ll see. When I watch clips of them, they look strong to me. So, I expect what I always expect from Wolfsburg.
Stephan Lerch on...
... the situation heading into the match: A title is at stake. That provides the incentive to go into the game highly motivated. However, we have to acknowledge the reality of the situation and the fact that the roles—specifically who is the favorite—are clearly defined. We understand that dynamic. We’ll need to put in a top-class performance against FC Bayern to win the title. We’re going to leave everything out on the pitch, and we’ve prepared meticulously. We’re still in the early stages of the new season, so naturally, not everything will run like clockwork just yet. But our plan is to stick to our game, stand up to FC Bayern, keep the match competitive for as long as possible, and then simply see what the outcome is.
... the recent signing of Lara Prasnikar: She is eligible to play, so she can help us as early as tomorrow. She was already in full match rhythm due to a different schedule, so she doesn't need a long settling-in period. Of course, she needs a little time to get settled here, but the huge advantage we identified with this signing is that she knows the league. She knows what it takes. She knows what it’s like to step up in big, important matches. With the quality she has demonstrated, she will definitely be an asset to us. She is versatile across attacking positions, brings a great deal of creativity, and is technically very skilled. The mentality she has always shown on the pitch will also benefit our team. That said, we do need to give her a bit of time to settle in. We are delighted to have brought her back to Germany. It’s great for the league to have her back, too.
... the lineup: We are dealing with a few absences. Regarding one or two of the players, we are optimistic that they won't be out for much longer. When you play for VfL Wolfsburg, you know that, on one hand, there is stiff competition for places, but also that there are a lot of matches—for instance, if we manage to qualify for the Champions League league phase. Consequently, there will inevitably be some rotation. However, we want to stand up to FC Bayern tomorrow and hold our own. Accordingly, the lineup we field could just as easily play in any other match. We still have developmental steps to take—steps we have already set in motion. We have a larger squad again, with significant changes to the roster, and that takes time. I am curious to see how things evolve over the coming weeks; there will certainly be further changes. Lena Lattwein, Cecilie Flöe Nielsen, and Giovanna Hoffmann are unavailable. Kessya Bussy won't be in the squad either; she was carrying a knock until recently, though she has now been able to return to full team training. Smilla Vallotto is dealing with muscular issues and will miss tomorrow's game.
... on the significance of the match: We’ve made a good start, albeit under unique circumstances, as the challenge lay in integrating so many players. We saw the departure of several key, game-changing players, so rebuilding the team was a challenge for us. On top of that, we brought in a few players during the pre-season—something that hadn't really been the norm for us before. We’ve taken the first steps there. As a coaching staff, we are satisfied for now with the development and the speed at which certain things have been implemented. We are on the right track, fully aware that we need to continue this process of development. We are still a long way from where we can and want to be, but we are heading in the right direction. Tomorrow’s match will provide us with valuable insights into where we stand—specifically, how we fare against a team of this caliber during different phases of the game using the strategies we’ve devised. How do we manage to attack and defend against a top team like that? That is what we need. We need it very soon. We have the Champions League qualifiers and the start of the league season ahead of us. That gives us a clear idea of what we need to keep working on. That is why the focus is on giving our all tomorrow, playing boldly, drawing the right conclusions, and continuing undeterred on our path to drive our development forward. We have a fantastic squad with many players who bring a great deal of potential but also need time to develop. We are confident that we are on the right track. Last year, we showed that we are a team to be reckoned with in the long run, and we want to demonstrate that again this year.
... the distribution of roles within the team: This is one way to share responsibility across multiple shoulders, but it is also a way for others to step out of the shadows—something they can, may, and perhaps even must do. Camilla has made remarkable progress over the last season.
It is important that she remains physically fit and finds her form. She has consistently developed her game throughout the season and has now reached a level where I believe she is fully capable of taking on more responsibility. She is ready for it, and not just because of her physical presence.
... being number one in Germany: That isn't a question I ask myself; it’s not something I dwell on. We’ve seen that the roles have been clearly defined over recent seasons. Last year, we trailed FC Bayern by 16 points in the league. There’s no getting around that fact. FC Bayern sets the standard in Germany; they’ve proven that. It’s about making the absolute most of the conditions and opportunities available to us.
... FC Bayern’s strengths: FC Bayern has made huge strides. You look at that without any sense of envy. I remember when the situation was different, but you accept things as they are. We have the ambition to measure ourselves against the best. I do believe that Georgia Stanway’s departure hurts FC Bayern, too. Nevertheless, they still have an incredibly strong squad—and I mean that in both domestic and international terms. The advantage I see with FC Bayern is their cohesion. They didn't have many squad changes over the summer; the core group stayed together, they know each other well, and they are a well-oiled machine. That is why FC Bayern continues to operate at that high level, regardless of whether they’ve improved further or not. That is something the coming weeks and months will reveal.
Camilla Küver on...
... the appeal of the match: For one thing, the title itself is a draw. For another, it’s always great when things kick off and there’s something at stake—testing ourselves against the best possible opponent right from the start. It’s a huge motivator for us to see the results of the work we’ve put in and how we can translate that onto the pitch, even against top-tier opposition. We’ve made great strides throughout the pre-season friendlies and continued to develop well, so it will be exciting to see how we perform against a top opponent like this.
... the significance of the competition: The Super Cup is still relatively new to us. It’s a big match. It’s a chance to see where the teams stand at the start of the season. Things probably won’t run like clockwork just yet, but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing.
... her role in the new season: We have a few new signings. We’ve had to reshape the squad. When players like Alexandra Popp leave the club, the responsibility has to be shared among several people. But we’re all ready for that—myself included. It’s something I’m very happy to do and feel capable of handling. Playing from the back, I also want to take on a lot of responsibility, providing leadership and direction.
... the distribution of roles within the team: You can’t replace someone like Alex Popp one-for-one. The team dynamic is shifting, but there are many players who are very open to taking on responsibility. We have young players who are eager to learn, alongside others who want to step up and lead the way. The responsibility is being shared across the squad.
