Xabi Alonso made one change to his starting XI compared with the goalless draw against Union Berlin: Florian Wirtz replaced Aleix Garcia in midfield to make his first start since the beginning of March. The hosts made the livelier start in the opening minutes as they pressed forward with Manolis Saliakas having the first chance of the game on seven minutes. At the other end of the pitch, Jeremie Frimpong had the first effort on goal for the Werkself after an impressive move involving Wirtz and Nathan Tella (14'). The Werkself gradually gained control as they adapted to the high pressing from St. Pauli who were without their captain Jackson Irvine for the first time in the current Bundesliga campaign.
The action then was mainly between the penalty areas with further chances initially absent. With the next attacking move, the champions of Germany then took the lead: A free kick from Alejandro Grimaldo from the right of the penalty area found the head of Patrik Schick who was able to head home from close range (32'). The 18th goal of the season for the Czechia international, currently the second top goalscorer in the Bundesliga, gave Bayer 04 a narrow lead at half-time.
There was a slow start to the second half until Lukas Hradecky made an impressive save to keep out a tricky free kick from a tight angle from St. Pauli's Eric Smith. Apart from this set-piece from the hosts, Jonathan Tah and Co. provided a reliable defence – until the home crowd at the Millerntor celebrated for the first time: A cross from midfield found St. Pauli's Morgan Guilavogui unmarked in front of Hradecky and he turned the ball into the net. Referee Sören Storks ruled the goal out as he explained via the stadium sound system as the goalscorer had handled the ball (74'). The ball was again in the Leverkusen net four minutes later – and this time it counted. Carlo Boukhalfa scored with a tap-in to make it 1-1. The Werkself endeavoured to strike back and had two chances through Grimaldo and Piero Hincapie (79', 81',) but failed to score. The final result was a draw at the Millerntor.
FC Augsburg visit the BayArena on Saturday, 26 April. The kick-off is at 15:30 CEST. The opponents to the end of the season are SC Freiburg (4 May/away), Borussia Dortmund (11 May/home) and Mainz 05 (17 May/away).
Match stats:
St. Pauli: Vasilj - Nemeth, Wahl, Van der Heyden - Saliakas, Metcalfe (Weißhaupt 59'), Smith, Treu - Guilavogui (Afolayan 90+1'), Sinani (Saad 90+1'), Boukhalfa (Wagner 85’)
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tapsoba (Buendía 89'), Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Wirtz, Tella (Boniface 89') - Schick (Adli 66’)
Goals: 0-1 Schick (32’), 1-1 Boukhalfa (78’)
Yellow cards: Smith - Hincapie, Hradecky, Frimpong, Tella
Referee: Sören Storks (Velen)
Attendance: 29,546 at the Millerntor-Stadion
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.
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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.
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After six consecutive wins, the Werkself have hit a rough patch: Bayer 04 lost 3-0 away to TSG Hoffenheim. Andrej Kramaric put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot (79'), with Alexander Prass and Max Moerstedt adding to the tally shortly before full-time (89’/90+5’). After ten matches under Carles Martínez, with the Black and Reds always scoring at least twice, Leverkusen failed to find the net for the first time.
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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.
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