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
The team departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 from July 14-24. The preseason journey marks a change from recent training camps in the Austrian Alps and Black Forest and we caught up with CEO Fernando Carro to ask him about this summer's visit to Brazil.
Show more
Malik Tillman and the USA could not quite achieve the hoped-for big win in their own country. Last Monday’s final in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston ended up in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts against Mexico. But the Bayer 04 new signing can be very happy with the course of the tournament and his own performances. Tillman was in the starting line-up for all six games. That concluded an impressive season for him after winning the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Bayer04.de profiles the 23-year-old new signing.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the USA international Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Werkself from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Tillman, with German roots and born in Nuremberg, has a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030. He scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 34 games for PSV last season. Three of those goals and two assists were in six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Show more
The second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
Show more
