Bayer 04 Women reduced to nine in defeat at home to Wolfsburg

Just three days after the 2-2 draw in the derby at FC Köln, the Werkself went into the game with six changes to the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Voll, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, who was awarded the Fritz Walter Silver Medal by the DFB on Friday, Lilla Turanyi, Katharina Piljic, Ida Daedelow, making her first start, and Caroline Kehrer replaced Friederike Repohl (thigh injury), Julia Mickenhagen, Selina Ostermeier, Juliette Vidal (injured), Sofie Zdebe (ill) and Valentina Mädl. In addition to Zdebel, Loreen Bender was also absent due to illness, with U23 player Jana Lindner making her first appearance in the Bundesliga squad.

Red for Voll after 30 Seconds

There was a bitter blow for the Black and Reds at the start of the game. Less than half a minute had been played when Voll rushed out of her goal after a long ball from Svenja Huth to Lineth Beerensteyn - and she too late making her challenge on the Wolfsburg striker. Referee Davina Lutz immediately showed her the red card. That meant Pätzold was forced to make an early substitution: Ruby Grant had to come off, with keeper Anne Moll coming on to make her first appearance of the season in her second Bundesliga game and the first in more than two years.

Janina Minge's subsequent free-kick fizzed just over the crossbar. As expected, the German runners-up took control of the game with the extra player on the pitch. The Werkself waited to play on the break. Carlotta Wamser tried her luck at the far post after square ball from Vanessa Fudalla, but she failed to connect properly (13').

Eight minutes later, Moll made her first save to keep out a powerful shot by Beerensteyn. The Wolves now pressed for the opener: A few seconds later, a header from Alexandra Popp landed just wide of the target, but she did better in the next move: The former Germany international scored the deserved opening goal for the visitors with a back-heel (23'). VfL then pinned Leverkusen back in their own half, but Pätzold's side prevented any further big chances thanks to their committed defending. Counter-attacking opportunities were few and far between as the pressure was too great. Moll saved another Popp header with ease (37'). The Wolves doubled their lead at 2-0 shortly before the break when Popp nodded in a cross from Huth for her brace (43'). Werkself goalkeeping coach Patrick Bade was then shown the red card for dissent. After an eventful first half, the team went into the half-time break 2-0 down.

two goals, next red card

For the second 45 minutes, centre-back Melissa Friedrich came on for midfielder Daedelow with Pätzold switching to a back five. While the first half had started in the worst possible way, the Werkself made a perfect start in the second half: From a free-kick from Merino Gonzalez, Wenger scored her first goal for Bayer 04 with a header (46'). Just two minutes later, however, Beerensteyn restored the lead from a possible offside position. A little later, only nine Leverkusen players were left on the pitch. Turanyi trod on Huth's foot and also saw red (51').

Ten minutes later, a looping cross from former Leverkusen player Janou Levels, who joined Wolfsburg in the summer, landed on the crossbar. Pätzold made three changes at the start of the final half-hour: Mickenhagen, Paulina Bartz and Mädl replaced Fudalla, captain Kristin Kögel and Kehrer. Merino Gonzalez then tried her luck from distance, but her shot did not test Stina Johannes in the Wolfsburg goal.

Down to nine players, the Bayer 04 Women fought back as best they could, but were barely able to make an impact up front. Instead, the visitors increased their lead to 4-1 after a corner, the ball coming off Wenger's head and into her own net (72'). With the result looking certain, both teams largely neutralised each other in the final minutes - until two minutes before the final whistle. First, Moll made a brilliant save to keep out a header from substitute Cora Zicai, then substitute Guro Bergsvand converted the subsequent corner to make the final score 5-1 (88').

coming up: in jena after the international break

The Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga takes a break next weekend. Some players will be away on international duty. The Pätzold team then face Carl Zeiss Jena on Sunday, 2 November (kick-off: 13:00 CET) at the ad hoc arena at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Voll - Merino Gonzalez, Wenger, Turanyi, Wamser - Daedelow (Friedrich 46’), Piljic - Grant (Moll 3’), Kögel (Bartz 63’)- Kehrer (Mädl 63’), Fudalla (Mickenhagen 63’)

VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes - Bussy, Dijkstra (Bergsvand 78’), Küver, Levels (Pujols Parera 78’)- Bjelde (Zicai 64’), Minge, Kielland, Huth - Popp (Linder 64’), Beerensteyn (Vallotto 78’)

Goals: 0-1 Popp (23'), 0-2 Popp (43'), 1-2 Wenger (46'), 1-3 Beerensteyn (51'), 1-4 Wenger (72' o.g.), 1-5 Bergsvand (88')

Red cards: Voll (1’), Bade (Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach, 43’), Turanyi (51’)

Yellow cards: none

Referee: Davina Lutz (Poppenhausen)

Attendance: 1,381 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium