2-1 at FC Nürnberg: Women clock up first win in Rückrunde

In a change to the line-up for the 1-1 draw against VfL Wolfsburg, Melissa Friedrich, Caroline Siems and Verena Wieder came into the starting XI for the injured Lilla Turányi (concussion), Sylwia Matysik (ankle). Julia Mickenhagen, who signed a professional contract in October, was on the subs bench for the first time in the Bundesliga.

The hosts made a brave start and the Leverkusen women, playing in light grey, were initially under pressure in defence. The first threat on the goal minded by Friederike Repohl, saw Caroline Siems clear the ball away for a corner to deny Medina Dešić. Shortly after that, the ball was in the back of the Nürnberg net. A free kick taken by Kristin Kögel was headed in by Selina Ostermeier – although she was just offside (17').

Friedrich scores with a header

The Bundesliga newcomers remained compact and disrupted the build-up play of the visitors. The Bayer 04 Women created their first chance down the left flank. Siems crossed to the far post for Synne Skinnes Hansen but her header went over the bar (24'). There was another threat on goal shortly after that. A corner by Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir found its way to Kögel but the shot from the midfielder was blocked. Luck changed straight after that: Another corner from Vilhjálmsdóttir found the head of Friedrich who put the ball in the back of the net from close range to open the scoring (28’).

The Werkself played with greater freedom with the one-goal advantage. Nikola Karczewska, who scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 win in the previous meeting, tried her luck from the edge of the box but Kristin Krammer in the FCN goal was alert (33'). The visitors now controlled the game but there were no further chances before half-time.

The second half began with a setback: Magnusdóttir fired in an effort from 25 metres out leaving Repohl with no chance as it flew into the top left corner (49'). The Bayer 04 Women only needed a couple of minutes to recover from the blow. Then Vilhjálmsdóttir fed the ball from the right side of midfield for Bragstad to beat Kramer with a powerful header in the penalty area (59'). The central defender scored against Wolfsburg to level at 1-1.

Immediately after that, de Pauw reinforced the midfield by bringing on Sofie Zdebel in place of Karczewska. The Werkself moved the ball round midfield and again and again tried their luck up front. There was a threat at the other end of the pitch. Dešić just missed out on equalising at 2-2 with a header from a cross that went inches wide of the post (69’).

The final phase of the game was also hard-fought. Nürnberg tried to break down the Werkself defence that stood firm passionately. A misplaced cross from substitute Nele Bauereisen was heading for the far corner (82’). De Pauw made another double substitution for the final few minutes. Mickenhagen made her Bundesliga debut with Paulina Bartz also coming on to replace Skinnes Hansen and Wieder (90'). The visitors successfully defend their lead in added time.

Home game against Hoffenheim

The Bayer 04 Women are at home on Sunday 18 February on Matchday 14 in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. The Black and Reds entertain TSG Hoffenheim at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with the kick-off at 14.00 CET. Tickets for the match are available online HERE. The two streaming providers MagentaSport and DAZN will broadcast the match live as usual.

Match stats:

FC Nürnberg: Krammer - Thöle, Steck (Burkard 90 + 1’), Schmidt, May, Lein (Kusch 81’) - Mai (Mailbeck 81’), Arfaoui (Kaczor 80’), Magnusdóttir - Dešić, Haim (Bauereisen 67’)

Bayer 04: Repohl - Ostermeier, Bragstad, Friedrich - Skinnes Hansen (Mickenhagen 90’), Senß, Kögel, Siems - Vilhjálmsdóttir, Wieder (Bartz 90’) - Karczewska (Zdebel 61’)

Goals: 0-1 Friedrich (28’), 1-1 Magnusdóttir (49’), 1-2 Bragstad (59’)

Yellow cards: Arfaoui, Schmidt, Dešić, Magnusdóttir / Bragstad, Senß

Referee: Davina Lutz (Poppenhausen)

Attendance: 1,048 at the Max Morlock Stadium