Second-half double brings Bayer 04 Women opening win in Leipzig

"Overall we're fully deserved winners because we put more into it," said Pätzold at full time. "We were the more active side and put the opponents, who were very passive at times, under pressure early. It was a typical first match of the season, where not everything's running smoothly yet. Particularly in the first half, we were a bit impatient, but we had three clear-cut opportunities as opposed to one chance for the opponents. We wanted to force Leipzig into mistakes and ultimately we succeeded in that with the two goals."

The coach was not entirely satisfied with how his team played once they had the two-goal lead. "We became a bit passive, but then the substitutes gave us fresh energy. We survived some dicey situations in the closing stages with great team spirit." The overriding feeling was delight, though, after the successful start. "I'm very proud and happy that we've negotiated the first hurdle, while knowing full well that we have potential for improvement," he continued. "We showed that we're physically and mentally ready for this difficult opening programme, and that we have the footballing qualities required. Now we can go into our first home match with confidence." 

Pätzold included four summer signings in his starting line-up. Rafaela Borggräfe, whose loan from Liverpool has been extended by a further year, was given the nod in goal, while the back four consisted of Marlene Müller, who moved to Leverkusen in the summer after six years at Leipzig, Lilla Turanyi, Selina Ostermeier and new captain Carolin Simon (from FC Bayern Munich). Carlotta Wamser and Sofie Zdebel, making her 100th competitive appearance for the Werkself, occupied central midfield, with Vanessa Fudalla and Loreen Bender out wide. Cornelia Kramer and Maja Sternad (from SV Werder Bremen) formed the front two.

Fudalla HITS BAR

After an even start without any highlights, the visitors gradually shifted the play into the opposition half. The first real chance fell to the second ex-Leipzig player in the Leverkusen ranks, Fudalla, whose deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area landed on top of the crossbar (13th minute). Three minutes later, Kramer sent a shot narrowly wide of the left post. Bender then fired over the bar after a solo run (19').

The next long-range effort from Kramer five minutes later was comfortably dealt with by RB goalkeeper Elvira Herzog. The Werkself were closer to breaking the deadlock than the Saxony side in this period, with Borggräfe not called into action until the 30th minute to save a long-distance shot from former Leverkusen player Delice Boboy. Four minutes later, the goalkeeper had to show impressive reactions to turn a deflected shot from Therese Simonsson over the bar. The first half ended with Sternad's first-time finish flying over the goal.

Kramer breaks deadlock

With no changes at the break, the first dangerous action of the second half resulted in the opening goal. Zbedel cut the ball back to Kramer and the Dane hit it first-time, and although Herzog got to it, she couldn't stop it nestling in the left corner (55'). The second goal shortly after that came about rather strangely, with Kramer's volley taking a deflection and looping towards goal. Sternad got in front of Herzog to head in her first competitive goal for Bayer 04 (63').

Pätzold immediately made a triple substitution, with Estrella Merino Gonzalez along with new signings Lobke Loonen and Paulina Tomasiak replacing Müller, goalscorer Sternad and Fudalla. Leipzig tried to come up with a response but the Leverkusen defence didn't allow any promising approaches near Borggräfe - until the 79th minute, when Nikee van Dijk's shot whistled just wide. Another debutant then came on in Paulina Platner (for Zbedel), before Valentina Mädl replaced Kramer. The Werkself comfortably saw out the rest of the game to claim the first three points of the season.

up next: first home game against Wolfsburg

It continues for the Werkself with the first home match of the season at the same time next week (Sunday 30 August, 16:00 CEST). The Black-and-Reds host last season's runners-up VfL Wolfsburg, who started the campaign with a spectacular 8-2 win at 1. FC Nürnberg, at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion.

The highlights:

Match stats:

RB Leipzig: Herzog - Mathys, Mertens, Dudek (Norheim 80'), Tuin - Schasching, Starke, Joly (Hulst 80') - Asgeirsdottir, Boboy (van Dijk 69'), Simonsson (Pfister 60')

Bayer 04: Borggräfe - Müller (Merino Gonzalez 64'), Turanyi, Ostermeier, Simon - Wamser, Zdebel (Platner 80') - Fudalla (Tomasiak 64'), Bender - Kramer (Mädl 81'), Sternad (Loonen 64')

Goals: 0-1 Kramer (55'), 2-0 Sternad (63')

Yellow cards: Mertens, Asgeirsdottir / Turanyi

Referee: Angelika Söder (Schwarzenbruck)

Attendance: 1,204 at Cottaweg training centre