Piljic strike seals win for Bayer 04 Women against Jena

"We said before the game: We'd rather not play so well, but get the three points. We've had enough games recently where we were really good but didn't win," said Pätzold: "We could have got was more out of the game in Wolfsburg, and we also had plenty of chances in the second half of our last home game against Hoffenheim but didn't score. Of course, things could have turned out differently today." That was accompanied by high praise for the opponents. "Jena have shown throughout the season that they never give up and throw themselves into every challenge lock, stock and barrel and have nothing to lose," said the coach: "We only have ourselves to blame for the fact that it was so tight. In the end, we had enough chances in both halves to achieve a better result.

Pätzold made two changes to his starting line-up: Valentina Mädl and Julia Mickenhagen came into the team in place of Loreen Bender and Lilla Turanyi, who were both suspended. In addition, striker Vanessa Fudalla started in attacking midfield alongside Ruby Grant and Claudia Wenger, who played at right-back in the 2-1 defeat at VfLWolfsburg, started in central defence .

PIljic nets opener with half-volley

Sofie Zdebel, who wore the captain's armband for the second time in a row, had the first attempt on goal for the Werkself after just two minutes with a long-range shot that did not test for Jena keeper Jasmin Janning. Shortly after that, Cornelia Kramer had a shot from inside the penalty area, but the ball flew over the bar. From a slightly more acute angle, the Dane's second shot missed the goal to the left (10'). The Werkself dominated the game from the outset, with most of the action in the opponents' half. The visitors inevitably restricted themselves to defensive work for the time being. After a few quieter minutes, a wonderful individual move finally produced the lead: Piljic half-volleyed a clearance into the top right-hand corner of the net (19') from the edge of the box. Just two minutes later, her midfield partner almost doubled the lead. However, Zdebel's shot on the turn from close range was blocked on the line by Felicia Sträßer. The hosts kept up the pressure: Just three minutes later, Carlotta Wamser failed to put the ball past Janning from a cross. The next shot from distance by Fudalla went over the crossbar (25').

It was more or less all one-way traffic from that point. Fudalla curled a left-footed corner from the right against the post (29') and ten minutes later her shot was blocked at the last second. At the other end, it took until the 41st minute for Josephine Bonsu to test Bayer 04 goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe for the first time. The scoreline remained flattering for the visitors at 1-0 as the two sides went off at half-time.

Jena more effective in second half

After the restart, Jena were a little more courageous, but Pätzold's team continued to have more of the play. Fudalla missed the first opportunity to make it 2-0 in the second half with a left-footed shot from 16 metres, which flew over the target (58'). Nevertheless, coach Florian Kästner's team were now finding their feet and winning more duels. Pätzold reacted with the first change: The recently injured Estrella Merino Gonzalez came on for Mädl (68'). Jena tried again and again with balls from midfield, but Borggräfe was always on the spot. After a Fudalla free-kick from the baseline, Mickenhagen missed the next chance to score a second goal. Her shot from a misplaced defensive header went over the target (72').

Pätzold then made two substiutions: Juliette Vidal and Kristin Kögel replaced Mickenhagen and Grant (82'). In the final phase, Leverkusen were closer to their second goal than Jena were to their first. Janning saved another long-range effort from Fudalla (89'). As the Werkself did not give anything else away at the back before the final whistle, it was enough to secure a narrow victory.

next up: away in Hamburg

Next Monday, 30 March, the action continues for the Werkself. At the end of the matchday 22, Leverkusen are away to newly promoted Hamburger SV with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Borggräfe - Wamser, Wenger, Ostermeier, Mickenhagen (Vidal 82’) - Piljic, Zdebel - Grant (Kögel 82’), Fudalla - Kramer, Mädl (Merino Gonzalez 68’)

FC Carl Zeiss Jena: Janning - Juckel, Sträßer, Ihlenburg, Schmid (Mummert 46’) - Bonsu (Schenk 81’), Julevic (Mühlemann 46’), Johansson Alcaide, Reuter - Tietz (Lehmann 72’), Jaron (Reske 59’)

Goals: 1-0 Piljic (19')

Yellow cards: Zdebel, Wenger - Schmid, Juckel, Jaron

Referee: Lara Wolf (Wilhelmshaven)

Attendance: 633 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium