The 56-year-old opted to make two changes to his starting eleven against Eintracht compared with the 4-0 defeat against Wolfsburg: Ivana Rudelic started in place of Sandra Jessen with the captain Jessica Wich making her return to the team. Kristin Kögel made way and started on the subs’ bench. The hosts made the better start in front of 360 spectators at the Brentanobad Stadium: Germany international Laura Freigang opened the scoring on four minutes. But the Werkself Women were quick to respond: Striker Milena Nikolic levelled the scores after good work by Ivana Rudelic (9’). “After that, we had two clear-cut chances and we could have been in front at half-time,” Feifel said in summing up the first 45.
After the restart there was a change in terms of taking chances: 62 minutes into the game, the Bayer 04 Women quickly mounted a counter-attack after winning possession, Dora Zeller passed to Rudelic who, in a repeat of the first Leverkusen goal, set up Nikolic in the penalty area – 2-1 and the tables were turned. The visitors held on to the narrow lead until just before the end of the game.
The lead was lost at the beginning of added time: Like Nikolic, Eintracht striker Freigang scored for the second time on the night when she converted a penalty (90’). According to Feifel, the Werkself Women “could have conceded the equaliser earlier on.” His team then had a double chance to regain the lead after the leveller at 2-2. But there were no more goals.
“Of course, initially it’s frustrating conceding such a late goal and going home with only one point. Nevertheless, I’m completely satisfied with the performance over 93 minutes,” declared Feifel who said his players produced a “great team performance.”
Match stats:
Eintracht Frankfurt: Frohms – Hechler (Küver 87’), Kleinherne, Störzel, Aschauer – Mauron (Prasnikar 46’), Pawollek – Panfil (Nüsken 41’), Freigang, Dunst – Reuteler
Bayer 04: Klink – Kerschowski, Turanyi, Friedrich (Kögel 61’), Marti – Csiszar, Wirtz, Wich (Jessen 57’), Zeller – Rudelic, Nikolic
Goals: 1-0 Freigang (4’), 1-1 Nikolic (9’), 1-2 Nikolic (62’), 2-2 Freigang (90’ pen.)
Booked: Pawollek / Wirtz, Rudelic
Referee: Katrin Rafalski (Baunatal)
Attendance: 360
Ibrahim Maza joined Bayer 04 from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025. The youngster from Berlin developed into a difference-maker in his first season with the Werkself. Find out what makes the highly talented player tick in this very personal interview. Among other things, Maza talks about his Algerian-Vietnamese-German home, the role of his family and the importance of Islam for him both in his private life and in football...
Show more
Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among the three nominees for the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season award. Fans have until 23:59 CEST on Thursday, 7 May to cast their votes in the official Bundesliga app.
Show more
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women have kept their chance of qualifying for the Champions League alive in the Bundesliga run-in. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 4-0 at SGS Essen on Sunday afternoon, improving their record from last season to 14 wins this term. With 43 points, the Werkself equalled another record from the 2024/25 season and at the same time reduced the gap to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to two points, at least for tonight. Loreen Bender (4’), Kristin Kögel (41’, 68’) and Cornelia Kramer (89’) scored for the Black and Reds, who dominated the game to record their fourth win on the bounce.
Show more
