Bayer Women gain point against Wolfsburg

"It wasn't our most attractive game but the result was right. The point is also very important mentally," said de Pauw: "We made life very difficult for VfL. Hats off to Rike (Friederike Repohl, ed.), she did well to keep us in the game several times. The team fought brilliantly and remained very disciplined." The equaliser was symptomatic of the passionate performance by the Leverkusen women. "The goal was somewhat lucky but symbolic of our performance. If Brags didn't make the challenge then it would never have happened." And the Dutchman was also impressed by the performance of his team after the 1-1 draw against ten Wolfsburg players. "They are dangerous at all times and that was shown by the attacking changes in the closing stages. Therefore, it was very important for us to maintain our shape."

Following the unfortunate 2-1 defeat away to Werder Bremen de Pauw made four changes to his starting line-up. In addition to the recovered captain Elisa Senß (for Sofie Zdebel) the defenders Bragstad and Sylwia Matysik and, for the first time in her Bundesliga career, the forward Loreen Bender came into thestarting XI for Melissa Friedrich, Caroline Siems and Verena Wieder.

As expected, the Wolves were dominant at the start and they missed the chance of taking an early lead (4') through Sveindís Jónsdóttir but a minute later the Leverkusen top goalscorer Nikola Karczewska had the first chance. However, her shot presented no problems to the Germany keeper Merle Frohms. Shortly after that, Bender raced to intercept an underhit VfL back pass but Frohms was alert and able to clear.

brave defending from the Bayer 04 women

The visitors controlled the game in the opening stages but the Bayer 04 Women were quick to close down spaces and thereby prevented searching passes in the final third. Transition play again and again led to the youngster Bender who brought a lot of dynamism into the game on the left flank. The biggest chance to that point fell to Wolfsburg: Keeper Repohl pulled off a brilliant reflex save (26') to deny the unmarked VfL striker Ewa Pajor. A collision with Marina Hegering brought an early end to the game for central defender Lilla Turányi and she was replaced by Friedrich.

VfL pressed harder for the first goal. On the half-hour mark, Repohl was again alert to deny Pajor. The Leverkusen players fought hard to avoid going behind – until Wolfsburg showed their clinical ability to finish. A misplaced pass from Rehpohl in build-up play saw the ball end up at the feet of Jónsdóttir and she crossed from the right wing. Alexandra Popp rose highest to head home into the corner of the net. With the boost of the opening goal, the Wolves pressed harder and just missed doubling the lead thanks to a brilliant save from Repohl to keep out Chantal Hagel. The half-time score was 1-0.​

The Bayer 04 Women started the second half energetically with the injured Matysik replaced by Siems. Bender put a header over the bar following a corner taken by Kristin Kögel. Repohl's goal was threatened again. The keeper turned away a shot from Pajor and Friedrich intervened to put off Popp (51'). The Wolves increasingly focused on counter-attacks and Repohl had to stretch to make a fingertip save (55') to deny Jónsdóttir.

The hosts had few dangerous attacks during this phase. De Pauw reacted by bringing on another forward in Cecilie Johansen (for Bender). The Black and Reds were now more solid at the back but the required precision was lacking in build-up play. Shortly after that, the visitors were the architects of their own downfall: Hegering, already on a yellow card, brought down Karczewska and was rightly sent off for a second bookable offence (72'). The ensuing free kick led to the equaliser: A long ball from Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir ended up with Bragstad putting the ball beyond the reach of Frohms into the corner of the net (73').

Despite being a player down, VfL endeavoured to keep possession but the Leverkusen players waited for their chance to influence the game. Estrella Merino Gonzalez replaced Synne Skinnes Hansen up front late on but it was the Wolves who posed a real threat. Substitute Maria-Joelle Wedemeyer hit the bar with a long-range effort in added time. But the game ended all square at 1-1.

carnival monday in Nuremberg

The next fixture for the Bayer 04 Women is a Monday game. The team led by de Pauw are away to newly promoted FC Nürnberg at the Max Morlock stadium on 12 February (kick-off: 19.30 CET, live on SPORT1, MagentaSport and DAZN). Leverkusen beat the team from Nuremberg 6-0 in the home game in the Hinrunde.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Repohl - Matysik (Siems 46'), Bragstad, Turányi (Friedrich 26’), Ostermeier - Senß - Skinnes Hansen (Merino Gonzalez 87’), Vilhjálmsdóttir, Kögel, Bender (Johansen 64’) - Karczewska

VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms - Wilms, Hegering, Janssen, Rabano (Wedemeyer 82’) - Oberdorf (Brand 82’) - Huth, Hagel (Lattwein 75’)- Jónsdóttir (Endemann 64’), Popp (Kalma 64’), Pajor

Goals: 0-1 Popp (37’), 1-1 Bragstad (73’)

Red cards: Hegering (72’/two bookings)

Yellow cards: - / Oberdorf

Referee: Dr. Riem Hussein (Bad Harzburg)

Attendance: 1,755 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium