Women play out goalless draw at Freiburg

"It was an even game," assessed de Pauw afterwards. "In the first half, Freiburg had a few good chances and we weren't sharp enough in the final third. Unfortunately it continued in the same vein in attack in the second half. Overall I'm pleased with the way we fought, even though we rode our luck a bit. The result is fair."

After the 2-1 defeat to SGS Essen in the DFB Cup, the Dutch coach made four alterations to his line-up. Friederike Repohl, Sylwia Matysik, Janou Levels and Verena Wieder came in for Charlotte Voll (shoulder), Selina Ostermeier (personal reasons), Loreen Bender (bench) and Nikola Karczewska (thigh).

The visitors were the first to threaten goal, but Lilla Turányi was put off at the crucial moment as she headed a free kick from Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir. At the other end, Freiburg captain Lisa Karl narrowly missed the target with an attempt from 11 metres. Aside from that, the early stages were characterised by duels in midfield as both sides attempted to seize control of the game - initially in vein.

Bragstad close to breaking deadlock

After around 20 minutes, Freiburg were enjoying more of the play but it was the sky blue-clad Leverkusen who had the more promising openings. Synne Skinnes Hansen's curling effort was deflected behind by the head of an SC defender, and from the resulting corner, goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe made a strong reflex save from Emilie Bragstad's header at the near post. Seven minutes later, a shot from Freiburg's Samantha Steuerwald rolled just past the goal of Repohl, before Sofie Zdebel's long-range effort was comfortably saved by Borggräfe. The home side's keeper was again on hand when Vilhjálmsdóttir had the best chance of the game so far with a powerful shot from the edge of the area, keeping the score at 0-0 at the break.

De Pauw made a double substitution at the break, with Caroline Siems and Estrella Merino Gonzalez replacing Skinnes Hansen and Levels. Right-back Siems was immediately involved when her cross missed Wieder in the middle by an inch. Freiburg, meanwhile, posed a constant threat with quick counter-attacks down the wings, but it was Bayer 04 Women who came close to taking the lead after an hour. Matysik dribbled towards goal after a turnover and fired just over the bar. 

The action was largely concentrated in midfield again in the following period. Both defences allowed hardly anything dangerous in front of their goals, with Leverkusen focusing on disciplined defending. Wieder's effort on the counter was blocked in the 69th minute. De Pauw then brought off the striker for Bender, while Freiburg made a triple change at the same time.

The hosts pushed for a winner in the final quarter of an hour. The woodwork came to Repohl's rescue following a corner in the 80th minute, but there were no more big chances at either end as the match ended in a draw.

Derby on monday evening

Next up for Bayer 04 Women is the derby against neighbours 1. FC Köln on Monday 18 March (kick-off 18:30 CET), which concludes Matchday 16. The Werkself won 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Cologne. The meeting at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion will be broadcast live on free TV broadcaster SPORT1 in Germany as well as subscription streaming services DAZN and MagentaSport.

Match stats:

SC Freiburg: Borggräfe - Karl (Gudorf 71'), Karich, Minge, Steinert - Hoffmann (Egli 71'), Steuerwald, Schasching - Kolb (Zicai 82'), Campbell, Vobian (Kayikci 71')

Bayer 04: Repohl - Matysik, Bragstad, Turányi - Skinnes Hansen (Siems 46'), Senß, Zdebel (Jorde 84'), Levels (Merino Gonzalez 46') - Vilhjálmsdóttir, Kögel (Bartz 84') - Wieder (Bender 71').

Yellow cards: Schasching / -

Referee: Selina Menzel (Hambrücken)

Attendance: 1,536 at the Dreisamstadion