Roberto Pätzold made two changes to the team that won 3-1 at Turbine Potsdam last time out as Lilla Turanyi started in place of Melissa Friedrich in central defence and Delice Boboy was replaced by Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir. The latter joined Synne Skinnes Hansen and Janou Levels in being given a warm farewell by general manager Linda Schöttler and sporting director Achim Feifel before kick-off. Vilhjalmsdottir is set to return to Bayern Munich following her loan, while Skinnes Hansen is joining Valerenga in her native Norway and Levels is switching to Wolfsburg.
After those emotional scenes, the Werkself got down to business on the pitch and quickly saw Kramer denied by goalkeeper Elvira Herzog, who made another save against the same opponent only a few moments after. Although the hosts were controlling play, Leipzig did manage to create chances of their own. But it was Kramer who had the first big opportunity of the day when picked out by Vilhjalmsdottir’s cross from the left, only to hit the underside of the crossbar from a few yards out.
The game calmed down after a busy opening period and Leipzig kept things tight. That was until Vilhjalmsdottir ran onto Katharina Piljic’s through ball, drove into the box and knocked the ball square to Kramer. The 22-year-old made no mistake against Herzog this time and slotted in shortly after the half-hour mark. The visitors looked to play their way towards Friederike Repohl’s goal, leaving space in behind for counter-attacks. Vilhjalmsdottir and Kramer almost made them pay again before the break, only for Herzog to claw away a header from the Dane.
Both sides resumed for the second half full of energy and Leipzig’s best chance so far when substitute Lydia Andrade had a shot from the edge of the box following a counter, but Repohl timed her dive to turn it around the post. At the other end, Herzog and a combination of post and bar kept out a Piljic effort. Vilhjalmsdottir tried to double the advantage with a shot from right of centre that went wide.
Pätzold brought on Sofie Zdebel in place of Juliette Vidal for the final 30 minutes as the Werkself tried to take the sting out of the game and keep Leipzig at arm’s length. The lively Vilhjalmsdottir was again denied by Herzog before receiving the applause of the 902 spectators at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion as she and Kristin Kögel made way for Boboy and Ruby Grant. Repohl was called into action again to tip a Lara Marti shot over the bar as Leipzig continued to look for a leveller. Skinnes Hansen was given a few minutes at the end in her last home game as Leverkusen saw out the win.
The 2024/25 season ends next Sunday with a visit to Wolfsburg. All six fixtures on Matchday 22 will kick off at 2pm CEST as the Werkself look to stretch their record points haul yet further.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Repohl – Merino Gonzalez, Ostermeier, Turanyi, Levels – Piljic, Vidal (Zdebel 61') – Bender (Skinnes Hansen 90'+1), Kögel (Grant 78') – Kramer, Vilhjalmsdottir (Boboy 78')
RB Leipzig: Herzog - Krug, Landenberger (Räcke 84'), Kempe, Marti - Joly, Hipp - Müller, Fudalla (Asgeirsdottir 84'), Kadowaki (Andrade 46'), Hoffmann
Goals: 1-0 Kramer (32')
Yellow cards: Boboy - Hoffmann, Andrade
Referee: Anna-Lena Heidenreich
Attendance: 902 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion
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