Pätzold made one change to the team that had lost 2-1 at home to Wolfsburg the previous week as the injured Carolin Simon was replaced by Bender, making her 50th competitive appearance for the Werkself after missing the previous game.
Leverkusen had the first opportunity of the game after only 45 seconds when Maja Sternad found Vanessa Fudalla, who scuffed wide. But there was no mistake a minute later when Sternad won the ball inside the box and teed up Bender for the 21-year-old to pick out the bottom right corner. Pätzold’s side remained on the front foot and Paulina Platner forced a save out of goalkeeper Laura Dick, before Fudalla again missed the target not long after. However, Hoffenheim levelled with their first attack of note when Marie Steiner – on her 21st birthday – leaded in a cross from the left midway through the first half. Rafaela Borggräfe denied Laia Martret to ensure the scores remained level.
It remained open approaching half-time as Bender failed to beat Dick. A flick from stand-in captain Sofie Zdebel found Sternad, who saw her shot saved by the Hoffenheim keeper, only for Fudalla to miss again on the follow-up as it remained 1-1 at the interval.
Justine Brandau came on for goalscorer Bender for the second half, where it was Borggräfe called into action first to keep out Svenja Frömli. Dick soon came out on top against Cornelia Kramer. With neither team able to take control of proceedings, the game remained somewhat disjointed and without notable chances. Hoffenheim captain Vanessa Diehm saw a long-range attempt sail over the bar, before Pätzold introduced Tomasiak and Claudia Wenger – making her first appearance of the season – for Platner and Fudalla. As an hour passed, the best chance for a third goal came from Hoffenheim’s goalscorer as she struck the crossbar, before a reaction stop from Borggräfe against substitute Linda Natter.
It was during this spell of home pressure that the Werkself managed to strike themselves. Marlene Müller won the ball to the right of the box and crossed into the middle, where Tomasiak rose highest to head in her first Bundesliga goal on 68 minutes. Hoffenheim went in search of another equaliser as Martret’s rasping effort was repelled by Borggräfe. Bayer 04 had to see out the final 10 minutes a player down after Zbedel was sent off for a second yellow card after kicking the ball away, but Borggräfe and her defence held firm to claim three more points.
Next up for the Werkself is the visit of defending champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Monday, 14 September (18:00 CEST).
Match stats:
Hoffenheim: Dick - Gloning, van de Velde, Doorn, Kaut - Steiner, Diehm, Ampoorter (Grimm 69') - Martret, Fölmli (Natter 59'), Hahn (Bitzer 69')
Bayer 04: Borggräfe - Merino Gonzalez, Turanyi, Ostermeier, Müller (Loonen 75') - Platner (Wenger 61'), Zdebel - Bender (Brandau 46'), Fudalla (Tomasiak 61') - Kramer (Misini 84'), Sternad
Goals: 0-1 Bender (2'), 1-1 Steiner (21'), 1-2 Tomasiak (68')
Red card: Zdebel (82')
Yellow card: Tomasiak
Referee: Naemi Breier
Attendance: 763 at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion
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