Head coach Gerardo Seoane made four changes to his starting line-up compared with the 5-2 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt: Odilon Kossounou, Exequiel Palacios, Kerem Demirbay and Karim Bellarabi came in for Jeremie Frimpong (one-match ban), Robert Andrich, Charles Aranguiz and Amine Adli (all on the bench).
The Werkself started the game well and had the first opportunity to take the lead after 120 seconds: Moussa Diaby set up Patrik Schick with a great chip pass but the 25-year-old was unable to control the ball – TSG keeper Oliver Baumann was able to intervene (2'). A few minutes later, Florian Wirtz appeared to have made it 1-0. However, the youngster was clearly offside when he received the ball so the strike was chalked off (5'). And the visitors? There was little sign of action up front in the opening stages – the only notable move saw Ihlas Bebou hit an effort from 15 yards out way over Lukas Hradecky's goal (11').
The ball twice hit the woodwork within seven minutes in the middle of the first half – at either end: First, Palacios hit the outside of the post following a free kick (28') and Hoffenheim central defender Chris Richards hit the bar from a corner (35').
Bayer 04 striker Schick was more accurate a minute later: Diaby flew down the right wing and crossed from the byline for his Czech teammate to score with a tap-in at the far post – 1-0 for the Seoane team (37'). The Black and Reds were within a whisker of extending the lead before the half-time break but Baumann pulled off two impressive reflex saves to deny Schick and Wirtz on 41 minutes.
The team under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, with two fresh players coming on for the second half in the shape of Pavel Kaderabek and Angelo Stiller, certainly upped their game. Werkself skipper Hradecky saved a shot from Andrej Kramaric from close range five minutes after the restart. Jonathan Tah and Co. were then mostly able to keep TSG away from their own penalty area. At the other end, Bellarabi had a great chance to make it 2-0 from a whipped-in cross by Diaby but Baumann was again able to make the save (59'). Moments later, Patrik Schick once again demonstrated his eminent qualities as a striker: Piero Hincapie crossed from the left into the penalty area where the 6 foot 3 forward beat his markers to head the ball into the top left corner – the lead doubled (63').
TSG responded to going further behind with the third shot against woodwork on the night: Kramaric hit the left-hand post from a cross (66'). The Black and Reds wanted to avoid a thrilling end to the game but Baumann had something against that. First of all, the Hoffenheim goalkeeper kept out a Wirtz header (70') and then he was able to save a powerful shot from Diaby from a tight angle (71').
The Hoeneß team sensed their chance after Baumann's saves – and they did get back into the game: First, substitute Angelo Stiller pulled a goal back from an impressive assist by Kevin Vogt (80'), and three minutes later it was another substitute, Munas Dabbur, who levelled the scores with a back-heel (83') – a tragic drama in the closing stages from a Bayer 04 perspective.
Diaby was shown a second yellow card in added time for a foul on Florian Grillitsch. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. The Werkself remain third in the Bundesliga. Kerem Demirbay and Co. are back in league action on Sunday, 19 December (kick-off: 15.30 CET) with an away game at SC Freiburg. It is the last match before the winter break.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou (Retsos 82'), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Palacios, Demirbay (Aránguiz 64') – Bellarabi (Adli 64'), Wirtz (Andrich 82'), Diaby – Schick (Alario 90’)
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Vogt, Grillitsch, Richards – Akpoguma (Kaderabek 46’), Rudy (Stiller 46’), Samassekou (Adamyan 82’), Raum – Baumgartner (Rutter 67’) – Kramaric, Bebou (Dabbur 67’)
Goals: 1-0 Schick (37’), 2-0 Schick (63’), 2-1 Stiller (80’), 2-2 Dabbur (83’)
Booked: Kossounou, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Rudy, Raum, Dabbur
Sent off: Diaby
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
Attendance: 13,272
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.
Show more
After nine points from their first three away matches of the 2026/27 season, the Bayer 04 Women suffered their first away defeat on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 defeat away to FC Nürnberg, who were winless before today, represented a setback for coach Roberto Pätzold’s team in the race for the top spots in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Fany Pronietz scored both goals (62’, 85’) for the home side.
Show more
The Werkself still have a score to settle with TSG Hoffenheim: Bayer 04 lost both matches against the Kraichgau side last term – after the Black and Reds had won all the previous five encounters. Leverkusen are currently on a roll and looking to kick off a new winning streak against TSG in Sinsheim on Sunday 25 October (kick-off: 15:30 CET), and Patrik Schick is keen to continue his current run of form. However, it will not be easy, as coach Christian Ilzer’s team have also gained confidence recently. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
A look at the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga table ahead of the Werkself's clash at 1. FC Nürnberg leaves little discussion: Bayer 04 Women go into Sunday's meeting at the Max-Morlock-Stadion (16:00 CEST) as clear favourites. Coach Roberto Pätzold explains what's needed for the fourth-placed team against the second-from-bottom in order to make it four wins from four away matches this season.
Show more
Bayer 04 march on! On the Greek holiday island of Crete, the Werkself made it three wins from three games in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase against Greek Cup winners OFI Crete. Carles Martínez's side put on an attacking display with a total of 33 attempts, while one player in particular stood out with a brace. At the same time, they kept another clean sheet in Europe. All the reaction and analysis of the 2-0 victory in the Werkself Review.
Show more
