“The win was deserved thanks to our hard work. Even if Frankfurt maybe had the better chances overall, we were more clinical,” said head coach Robert de Pauw. “We had some luck at times, and also an excellent goalkeeper. We played some decent football at times. Set pieces are also becoming more of an asset for us.” The Dutchman was particularly pleased by the second half: “We kept our shape and fought, fought, fought. In the end that hard work was rewarded by the second goal.”
De Pauw made one change to his team from the 0-0 draw in Essen as Caroline Siems replaced Synne Skinnes Hansen on the right, who was out with a thigh problem. The game began without any notable chances as both sides focused on safety first. Frankfurt looked to get down the wings and eventually created the first big opportunity in the 10th minute, but Friederike Repohl kept her nerve in the Werkself goal to deny Nicole Anyomi one-on-one after a through ball.
Anyomi again failed to take a chance to put the visitors ahead, knocking the ball wide after getting the better of Emilie Bragstad in a race. Straight up the other end, Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir also missed an opportunity for Bayer 04, who were finding their feet in the game. Siems then saw a shot from the edge of the box saved by Stina Johannes.
With Vilhjalmsdottir unable to continue after a challenge, Bender was introduced after just 33 minutes. Barely 120 seconds later, the 18-year-old found the breakthrough when she stuck out a foot to get on the end of Kristin Kögel’s free-kick from the right to beat Johannes. It was Bender’s first Bundesliga goal and the difference up to the break.
The hosts continued to play on the front foot after the restart and Bender failed to make an attack count when caught between shooting and crossing from right of goal. Anyomi struck the left post shortly after.
De Pauw made a double change after the hour mark as Selina Ostermeier and Karczewska came on for Janou Levels and Estrella Merino Gonzalez. Moments later, Sylwia Matysik missed the chance to double the lead with a header from a Kögel corner. Almost from nowhere, Frankfurt came close to levelling when Lara Prasnikar struck the bar from range.
Paulina Bartz and Julie Jorde provided more fresh legs in the closing quarter of an hour for Matysik and Sofie Zdebel, while the Bayer 04 defence remained solid and dealt with Frankfurt’s long balls. The hard work paid off when Karczewska rounded off a counter-attack to grab a second three minutes beyond the 90.
The Werkself are back in action again next Saturday with an away game at RB Leipzig (6.30pm CEST).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Repohl - Matysik (Bartz 76'), Bragstad, Turányi - Siems, Senß, Zdebel (Jorde 76'), Levels (Ostermeier 59') - Vilhjálmsdóttir (Bender 33'), Kögel - Merino Gonzalez (Karczewska 59')
Frankfurt: Johannes - Wolter, Doorsoun, Kleinherne, Hanshaw - Reuteler, Gräwe, Dunst (Martinez 75') - I. Acikgöz (Chiba 46') - Anyomi (D. Acikgöz 80'), Prasnikar
Goals: 1-0 Bender (36'), 2-0 Karczewska (90'+3)
Yellow cards: Turányi - I. Acikgöz
Referee: Davina Lutz
Attendance: 910 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
Show more
Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
Show more
A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
Show more
A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
Show more
At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...
Show more
