First goal for Fudalla: Women's friendly against Zwolle ends all square

"The draw is okay. We are definitely a step further on compared with last week and we made a similar start to the preseason last term," said Pätzold: "We were in control for the first 20 minutes and created a number of chances without posing a threat in their penalty area. Zwolle were again and again dangerous on the break. The first half was very physical and we were chasing the game after going behind but we showed a lot of desire to hit back after the restart. Our crosses were often blocked at the last moment. Nevertheless, we won a lot of challenges overall and created a number of goalscoring opportunities."

As in the game against TSG hoffenheim last wee, the two squad members at Euro 2025 Cornelia Kramer and Carlotta Wamser plus summer signing Valentina Mädl (Achilles problem), Charlotte Voll (ankle), Caroline Kehrer (knee), Shen Menglu (torn cruciate) and Ida Daedelow were unavailable as was Selina Ostermeier (both with knocks) and Vanessa Haim (gastrointestinal problems). Katharina Piljic returned to the squad following an Achilles problem and five youth players extended the squad: Paula Schwartze, Sana Coskun, Alisa Sinani, Jana Lindner and Jolina Heltemes.

Once again, Pätzold fielded different line-ups in the two halves but this time several players were in action for more than 45 minutes. His players were on the front foot from the start and looked to test the opposition defence early on. Initially there was nothing more than several corners and shots on goal from distance. The hosts, playing in blue and white waited for chances on the break and more and more evaded pressing from the Werkself after the half-hour mark.

clinical Zwolle take the lead

With the first real chance on goal, the team that finished tenth in the Eredivisie last season, took the lead. Hanna Huizenga scored the opening goal with a shot on the turn (32'). The Black and Reds look to provide an instant response but the Zwolle defence stood firm up to half-time.

After the restart, only the bar prevented Huizenga scoring her second goal (47'). At the other end, Kristin Kögel and Estrella Merino Gonzalez both missed the chance to level in succession. The Werkself again and again pressed for the equaliser. After Melissa Friedrich cleared off the line with a header, Fudalla scored a deserved leveller at 1-1. Her well hit shot from range found the bottom left corner of the net (67').

The Black and Reds wanted to turn the game around but Zwolle remained dangerous. The substitute keeper Anne Moll saved her team from going behind with two impressive reflex saves (71'/84’) and at the other end the final ball was missing to create more clear-cut chances. The game ended in a fair 1-1 draw.

outlook: one more friendly before break

The Werkself run of Friday friendlies continues next week. The next German-Dutch clash is on 18 July with the kick-off at 15:00 CEST. The Black and Reds play Ajax in three 30-minute sections at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. There is then a break in training from 20 July to 3 August. In the second part of the preseason, the Leverkusen Women have another four friendlies in addition to a training camp in Bavaria (Rieden) from 17 to 23 August. The 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign starts for the Bayer 04 Women on Saturday, 6 September (17:45 CEST) with the official opening match away to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

The full summer timetable for the Women's team can be found HERE.

Match stats:

Starting XI PEC Zwolle: Tissingh - Dijsselhof, Rutgers, Lindner, Kemper, Roosjen, Zuidberg, Huizenga, van Vugt, Ledema, Weiman

Bayer 04 Women, first half: Repohl - Merino Gonzalez, Lindner, Turanyi, Vidal (Coskun 32') - Grant, Zdebel (Heltemes 26') - Coskun (Bartz 26'), Kögel - Bender, Fudalla (Mickenhagen 26')

Bayer 04 Women, second half: Repohl (Moll 61') - Schwartze, Wenger, Friedrich, Mickenhagen (Lindner 82') - Zdebel, Grant (Piljic 74') - Bartz, Kögel (Coskun 74') - Merino Gonzalez (Sinani 74')

Goals: 1-0 Huizenga (32’), Fudalla (67’)

Referee: Stefan Stelt 

Attendance: 125 in Wezep/Netherlands