Bayer 04 Women draw 1-1 in derby against FC Köln

"Of course, we are all disappointed with the result but we have to look at it in relation to what we have already achieved. We are continuing to have the best season in our club's history. There is still room for improvement mathematically so we continue to look forwards," said assistant coach Remzi Kahraman who was in the dugout in place of the suspended Pätzold: "We should have made more of some of our chances. Overall we are not far behind the top teams but we are lacking consistency. Even though we have already made good progress we still have a lot to learn."

Compared with the 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich two weeks ago, Pätzold, who was unable to be in the dugout due to a fourth yellow card, made two changes to his starting line-up. Janou Levels returned to the team after recovering from a muscle injury, Kristin Kögel moved into midfield, Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir started on the bench. Caroline Kehrer, who was suspended for the game in Munich, replaced Delice Boboy. Pätzold's place was taken by Kahraman with close support from assistant coach Friederike Mehring.

In the best of weather, the Bayer 04 Women were on top from the start of the game. The first half-chance fell to the Pätzold team on two minutes. Kehrer broke into the opposition penalty area from the left but her lay-off was blocked. The uncompromising desire of the Leverkusen team was evident in nearly every action as they looked to keep in touch with the teams above Bayer 04 in Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg and thereby maintain the chance of a Champions League finish. The first big chance followed three minutes later: Kramer had a free header in the six-yard box but the ball went over the bar of the goal minded by the FC Köln keeper Aurora Mikalsen.

lots of chances for the black and reds but Fc Köln score

Ten minutes into the game, Loreen Bender was in a central position 20 metres from the FC Köln goal with a chance to shoot. Her well struck low shot was saved by Mikalsen. The quality of the Leverkusen chances kept improving. Levels put Kögel through on the left. Her low pass found Kramer on the penalty spot but Mikalsen was again able to save her shot (19’). Two minutes later, Kögel beat Gerhardt in an aerial duel from a cross but she headed just over the bar.

The team from Cologne led by coach Britta Carlson were not unsettled and their first chance soon came. From a corner from the right, Hechler met the ball with her right thigh but the Leverkusen defence cleared just in front of the goal line (26'). A warning for the Black and Reds as Köln again and again pressed forward. One of those attacks led to the first goal of the game on 35 minutes. Vogt played an excellent pass up front and Ziemer broke into the box, did two sidesteps and then slotted the ball into the left corner from seven metres out. Köln led 1-0 at half-time.

There were no changes at half-time. And again it was the Bayer 04 Women who were on top from the start of the second 45 and a series of corners followed. The fourth corner on 54 minutes finally brought a reward. Kögel played the ball in to the near post from the right for Kramer to power in a header to level at 1-1. And again it was Kramer who had the chance to give Bayer 04 the lead on 61 minutes but she just failed to connect with the ball.

The Werkself played with more focus than in the last 15 minutes of the first half and succeeded in putting the Köln team under pressure. On 66 minutes, Bayer 04 almost reproduced the corner the lead to the first goal. Kögel took the corner with Kramer again hitting a powerful header goalwards but it went just over the bar.

As the game went on, FC Köln had a few attacks but passes up front lacked accuracy. And the Bayer 04 Women also lacked precision in the final third. The game was almost settled against the run of play on 90 minutes but Laura Feiersinger and Laura Donhauser got in each other's way in the penalty area. Bayer 04 also had a chance in added time to seal the win but the shot from Estrella Merino Gonzalez did not find the back of the net and the scoreline remained 1-1.

outlook: in potsdam after easter

Ahead of the final run-in in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Werkself have another break next weekend. There are no matches over Easter. The opening game on Matchday 20 on Friday, 25 April (18:30 CEST, live on MagentaSport and DAZN) is away to bottom-of-the-table Turbine Potsdam.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Repohl – Merino Gonzalez, Ostermeier, Friedrich, Levels (Piljic 58') – Zdebel, Vidal – Bender (Grant 67'), Kögel (Vilhjalmsdóttir 80') – Kramer, Kehrer (Boboy 67')

FC Köln: Mikalsen – Agrez, Hechler, Vogt, Achcinska – Bienz (Donhauser 72'), Ziemer, Gerhardt – Wiankowska, Feiersinger, Leimenstoll (Billa 58')

Goals: 0-1 Ziemer (35’), 1-1 Kramer (54’)

Yellow cards: Ostermeier – Agrez, Wiankowska

Referee: Annika Kost (Münster)

Attendance: 1,784 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium