Bayer 04 Women get back to winning ways in Jena

Roberto Pätzold made seven changes to his team from the 5-1 defeat against Wolfsburg. Anne Moll made her starting debut for Werkself in goal, replacing Charlotte Voll, who was suspended for two games after receiving a red card, with Friederike Repohl also out with a muscular thigh injury. Moll had already come on as a substitute in the third minute after Voll was sent off against Wolfsburg, making her first Bundesliga appearance in more than two years. Melissa Friedrich, who took over the captain's armband from Repohl for the match, Julia Mickenhagen, Sofie Zdebel, Paulina Bartz and Mädl also came into the revamped starting line-up in place of Lilla Turanyi (suspended), Carlotta Wamser (injured), Ida Daedelow, Ruby Grant and Kristin Kögel.

WERKSELF PROFIT FROM OWN GOAL

Leverkusen started brightly and, in contrast to the previous matchday, got off to a dream start. Mädl failed to make a connection with her heel following a cross from Fudalla, but Jena defender Steffi Schmid, who was standing directly behind Mädl, attempted to clear the ball from close range and ended up putting it into her own net inside six minutes. The visitors then settled around the opposition’s penalty area, creating a number of dangerous situations. At the other end, Moll had little to do in the early stages. Bayer 04 duly added to their lead when a cross from Mickenhagen on the left was nodded in by Kehrer at the back post to make it 2-0 – her first goal of the season.

Pätzold's team were far from satisfied and pressed on for more goals. Zdebel missed the best chance to make it 3-0 when, from a promising position in the box, she placed the ball too centrally, allowing Jena goalkeeper Jasmin Janning to make an easy save. Two minutes later, the keeper missed the ball at a corner, but Bartz, not expecting the ball, failed to convert at the near post. Instead, Jena pulled one back out of nowhere. Katharina Piljic played a misplaced pass into the path of Emily Reske, who left Moll no chance with her first-time finish.

MÄDL AND FUDALLA INCREASE THE CUSHION

There were no personnel changes going into the second half, and the Werkself promptly restored their two-goal lead. After a long ball from Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Mädl won the footrace against Toma Ihlenburg and put the ball past Janning. Six minutes later, Fudalla sealed the deal. Following a misplaced pass by Janning in the build-up, Kehrer poked the ball to the side. Ihlenburg's attempted clearance landed at the feet of the former Leipzig player, who slotted into the empty net to make it 4-1 for her sixth goal of the Bundesliga season. Shortly afterwards, Pätzold made a triple substitution. Loreen Bender, Vanessa Haim and Kögel came on for Bartz and the goalscorers Kehrer and Fudalla.

Jena attempted sporadic counter-attacks, with substitute Josephine Bonsu hitting the outside of the post on one occasion. At the other end, substitute Bender missed from close range, squandering a huge chance to make it 5-1. Shortly afterwards, Grant replaced Piljic in midfield. With the game’s score offering Jena little hope for a comeback, not much else happened on the pitch during this phase. In the closing stages, Amy Wrigge came on for Mädl, making her Bundesliga debut at the age of 17. Shortly before the start of stoppage time, substitute Noemi Gentile reduced the deficit to 4-2 for the hosts. Nevertheless, Wrigge and her teammates were able to celebrate a well-deserved away win.

Coming up: BUSY DAYS AHEAD WITH A MIDWEEK FIXTURE

Bayer 04 will continue their campaign on Wednesday with a home match against newly promoted Hamburg at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion (19:00 CET). The Werkself will then face Freiburg at the Dreisamstadion on Monday, 10 November (18:00 CET) for Matchday 10.

Match stats:

Carl Zeiss Jena: Janning - Sträßer, Ihlenburg, Heuschkel (Mühlemann 56'), Schmid, Juckel - Andersson, Gora (Julevic 56'), Reske (Häring 56') - Tietz (Gentile 67'), Jaron

Bayer 04: Moll - Merino Gonzalez, Ostermeier, Friedrich, Mickenhagen - Zdebel, Piljic (Grant 71') - Bartz (Bender 63'), Fudalla (Kögel 63') - Mädl (Wrigge 81'), Kehrer (Haim 63')

Goals: 0-1 Schmid (6', og), 0-2 Kehrer (19'), 1-2 Reske (41'), 1-3 Mädl (52'), 1-4 Fudalla (58'), 2-4 Gentile (90')

Yellow cards: Andersson, Schmid - Zdebel

Referee: Angelika Söder