The Black and Reds headed south without having played a single external friendly. Ahead of the opening fixture, Feifel stressed: "We’ll only get our feedback from our pre-season in Freiburg." Reminded of his statement, the satisfied coach said after the winning the game: "The girls stood up, gave their all and were rewarded for their efforts!"
In the opening stages of the game in front of 100 selected spectators at the Möslestadion, there was no sign of the lack of match practice for the visitors. In their pre-season, Freiburg had three friendlies against Bundesliga rivals and were able to initially take control of the game on their own turf. "We found it a bit difficult at the start. Freiburg gave everything. It was to be expected that we were unable to deal with this intensity given the absence of friendlies in our pre-season," Feifel declared. His team went into half-time 1-0 down. Summer signing Lilla Turanyi was unfortunate to handle the ball in the box and Freiburg's Rebecca Knaak made no mistake from the penalty spot (45+ 1').
The Werkself Women went into half-time having conceded the goal is an unfortunate moment in the game. However, experienced members of the squad led by new captain Jessica Wich plus Feifel and his assistant coach Jacqueline Dünker appeared to find the right words. In the second half, the visitors came back into the game and took control of proceedings – which on this occasion was down to the substitutes. "They were able to significantly increase the level of our game," Feifel declared and he was able to celebrate twice late on.
Substitute Csiszar set up the other substitute Rackow on 87 minutes. The 19-year-old won the ball in the penalty area was able to put the ball away to level the scores. The provider of the assist was then able to score herself shortly after that: Juliane Wirtz squared the ball to the far post for her to net the winning goal. The final whistle came shortly after that and the Bayer 04 Women secured a winning start to the new season. "We did have a bit of luck but in the end it was thoroughly deserved," said the extremely satisfied Feifel.
Immediately after the game, the Werkself Women returned to the Rhineland on the team coach. After a night's rest, Wich and Co. have a regeneration session or light training on Monday. The Leverkusen Women then have their first home game of the new league campaign on Friday, 11 September. The match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium – unfortunately played behind closed doors – against MSV Duisburg kicks off at 19.15 CET.
Match stats:
SC Freiburg: Nuding – Bürger (Memeti 69'), Hoffmann, Karl, Kayikci, Knaak, Minge, Müller (Sanders 78'), Starke, Steuerwald, Vojtekova
Bayer 04: Klink – Brüggemann, Jessen, Kerschowski (Wirtz 63'), Kögel (Pinther 56'), Matysik (Csiszar 63'), Rudelic, Sahlmann, Turanyi, Wich, Zeller (Rackow 82')
Goals: 1-0 Knaak (45+1’ pen.), 1-1 Rackow (87’), 1-2 Csiszar (90+1’)
Booked: Starke / Brüggemann, Sahlmann
Referee: Fabienne Michel (Gau-Odernheim)
Attendance: 100
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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