"Enschede were a challenging opponent who tested us all the way against the ball. We did a lot of what we set out to do on the pitch, including a set-piece goal and a goal from outside the box," said Pätzold after the match: "However, we were too rushed in some situations and suffered counter attacks once or twice. Things went much better in the second half. It's important we had a positive experience in a friendly against a strong opponent after the recent results in the league."
In addition to a total of nine players who are on international duty with their national teams in the coming days, head coach Pätzold had to manage without Shen Menglu (cruciate ligament rupture) and Charlotte Voll (shoulder injury), who are still injured long-term. Cornelia Kramer and captain Friederike Repohl (both muscle injuries) as well as Carlotta Wamser and Ida Daedelow (both injured) were also missing. Pätzold therefore inevitably made a total of five changes to the starting XI compared with the 1-0 defeat against SGS Essen. The squad also included players from the club's youth teams.
The Werkself were committed right from the start against the leaders of the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen. Juliette Vidal posed the first threat on goal in front of goalkeeper Lemey's box, but her shot went wide of the target (6'). Centre-back Lilla Turanyi did better from a Ruby Grant corner scoring with a header - a deserved lead at that point. However, the visitors equalised six minutes later with their first chance on goal. After Melissa Friedrich lost possession, Charlotte Hulst curled the ball into the far corner. The game then evened out. Werkself keeper Anne Moll made a confident save from a cross from the left edge of the penalty area in the 35th minute. The teams went into the half-time break level at 1-1.
At the start of the second half, Pätzold brought on U23 full-back Luise Becker in place of Jana Lindner. As the drizzle set in again, a double strike within four minutes put Leverkusen back in front. First, the 1.56 metre tall Kristin Kögel headed in a cross from the right flank, before Paulina Bartz followed Kögel's pass with a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area that hit the underside of the crossbar and the ball dropped behind the line. On 82 minutes, the Dutch side reduced the deficit again through Jill Diekman, but the Bayer 04 Women were able to secure a deserved victory in the friendly.
After the final international break of the calendar year, Leverkusen return to league action on matchday 12 in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga on Saturday, 6 December (14:00 CET) with a home game against RB Leipzig, who are currently ninth in the table. Tickets for the match at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium are available HERE.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Moll - Lindner (Becker 46’), Friedrich, Turanyi (Sosnik 80’), Vidal - Grant, Bartz (Mertens 80’) - Fudalla, Kögel - Kehrer (Eltgen), Haim (Sinani 60’)
Goals: 1-0 Turanyi (16'), 1-1 Hulst (22'), 2-1 Kögel (65'), 3-1 Bartz (69'), 3-2 Diekman (82')
Referee: Lisa Reinecke (Erfthöhen)
Attendance: 30 at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre
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