Bayer 04 Women maintain perfect away record with late win in Freiburg

Head coach Roberto Pätzoldmade three changes from the team that started Monday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich. Sofie Zdebel was back from her suspension and came in for Marlene Müller, also captaining the side in place of the injured Carolin Simon. Claudia Wenger dropped back from midfield to replace Selina Ostermeier into defence, while Vanessa Fudalla came in for Loreen Bender.

Behind early

Freiburg had beaten Mainz 3-0 the previous week and also won their other home fixture 1-0 against Union Berlin on Matchday 2. It meant either they would lose their perfect record at home or Leverkusen would lose theirs away from home, while the victors would keep pace with the top sides. Things got off to an unfortunate start for Bayer 04, though, when Kramer’s attempt to clear a free-kick ended up looping over Rafaela Borggräfe and into her own net with only nine minutes played.

Both teams went in search control of the game, building on a solid defence, meaning things remained quite in both penalty areas. Borggräfe made comfortable stops against Maj Schneider and a header from Luca-Emily Birkholz. The Werkself’s best opportunity came for Lilla Turanyi, but she couldn’t control Fudalla’s cross. Coming towards the end of the first half, Kramer and Merino Gonzalez both tested Anna Reimann in the Freiburg goal. Her best save came against Paulina Tomasiak with a reaction stop to deny Monday’s double goalscorer against Bayern.

Rare double, late winner

Bayer 04 almost found themselves two down straight after the restart as Freiburg pounced on a mistake. Borggräfe was able to get something on the ball, but it needed a flying Wenger to clear off the line. Leverkusen eventually came through an initial spell of home pressure and were given a way back into the game when substitute Amira Arfaoui upended Turanyi in the box, allowing Kramer to step up and level with her second – albeit this time at the right end – goal of the day.

The equaliser seemed to lift the tempo of the game as the 2,031 spectators inside the Dreisamstadion got to watch an exciting final half an hour. Freiburg had the next big opportunity when Birkholz crossed low into the middle and forced Merino Gonzalez into a last-ditch clearance ahead of Arfaoui. At the other end, Paulina Platner met a corner with her head but could only direct it onto the Freiburg post. Merino Gonzalez made no mistake in the final minute of normal time, though, when the Werkself No.10 met Tomasiak’s cross to make it 2-1 and give Pätzold’s women a third straight away win this season.

Cup then Bremen at home

There’s no Bundesliga action next weekend as the DFB Pokal kicks off for 2026/27, with the Werkself away at second division Viktoria Berlin on Sunday, 27 September (14:00 CEST). The following week Werder Bremen are the visitors to the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion to open Matchday 6 on Friday, 2 October (18:30).

Match stats:

Freiburg: Reimann - Karl, Axtmann, Stierli, Memminger - Vobian (Vincze 74'), Acigöz, Schneider (Ojukwu 46'), Kolb (Arfaoui 49') - Birkholz, Brunold (Bienz 74')

Bayer 04: Borggräfe - Merino Gonzalez, Wenger, Turanyi (Ostermeier 76'), Brandau - Zdebel (Misni 76'), Platner - Fudalla (Loonen 46'), Tomasiak - Kramer (Kehrer 89'), Sternad (Müller 66')

Goals: 1-0 Kramer (9', og.), 1-1 Kramer (56', pen), 1-2 Merino Gonzalez (89')

Yellow cards:  Arfaoui, Stierli, Vincze - Turanyi, Brandau, Merino Gonzalez

Referee: Karoline Wacker

Attendance: 2,031 at the Dreisamstadion