Women end training camp with 2-1 win against Union Berlin

As with Tuesday's 5-1 win in the friendly against Villarreal, Pätzold substituted in every position over the course of the game. The starting XI played the first two thirds of the game. Loreen Bender (recovery after tonsillitis operation), Vanessa Haim (rehab after back problems), Juliette Vidal (broken nose) and Sofia Cava Marin (torn cruciate) did not travel to Spain. Other absentees from the squad at the training camp were Cornelia Kramer, Synne Skinnes Hansen, Estrella Merino Gonzalez and Kirkeliis Lillemets (all rested) plus the goalkeepers Charlotte Voll and Louisa Remien (both trained in the morning).

Werkself control first third

The Werkself were camped in the opposition half in the opening minutes with Union looking to play on the break. In one of those counter-attacks, full-back Shen Menglu intervened to avoid danger to her team with fast covering back (3'). The first chance at the other end fell to Boboy but the striker failed to convert with two shots one after the other (10'). Four minutes later, Lilla Turanyi headed a corner from Janou Levels just wide of the target. The ambitious second division team defended in depth and rarely allowed the Bundesliga side to build promising moves. It took an own goal to open the scoring: A whipped in cross from Caroline Kehrer was turned into her own net by the central defender Schneider in an attempt to clear (19').

Union Berlin mounted several counter-attacks but the Pätzold team retained the upper hand. With five minutes to play in the first third, a free kick taken by Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir found the head of Turanyi but she was unable to beat the FCU keeper Cara Bösl (34’).

At the start of the second third, the captain Friederike Repohl in the Leverkusen goal had to save a long-range effort (45'). The Black and Reds continued to control the game. Boboy tried to score with a curler from the edge of the box but the Union keeper Melanie Wagner made an impressive save (60'). The keeper also kept out a volley by Selina Ostermeier from a Kristin Kögel free kick. After that, the Berlin team had more of the game but the Bayer 04 defence prevented any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities. After intense training over the past few days both sides lacked accuracy in certain moves. The new signing Ruby Grant had a shot blocked after a fast move just before the second break (76'). The scoreline remained 1-0 after 80 minutes.

Boboy hits back after Union equaliser

There were changes on both sides before the final third of the game – and Union were rewarded early for their great efforts. A corner taken by Antonia Halverkamps was headed into the net at the far post by Nele Bauereisen (82'). The many changes again increased the tempo of the game but the second division defence remained alert. Boboy was in the right spot when it looked like the game would end in a draw. She received a long pass from Melissa Friedrich and controlled the ball on the six-yard box before firing an unstoppable shot into the back of net from a tight angle to make it 2-1 (114') – and that was the final scoreline.

outlook: opening match in Freiburg

The Bayer 04 Women will fly back to Germany on Sunday morning. After another week of training, the first competitive game of the year is on Sunday, 26 January (12.00 CET) away to SC Freiburg in a rearranged game from Matchday 1. The Werkself then play Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening game on Matchday 13 on Friday, 31 January (18.30 CET). The full winter timetable is HERE.

Match stats:

Bayer 04, Thirds 1 and 2: Repohl - Menglu (Bragstad 41'), Ostermeier, Turanyi, Levels - Zdebel, Piljic - Vilhjalmsdottir (Grant 61'), Kögel - Boboy (Mickenhagen 61'), Kehrer

Bayer 04, Third 3: Repohl (Moll 91') - Schwartze, Bragstad, Friedrich, Mickenhagen - Grant, Daedelow, Lindner, Menglu - Bartz (Vilhjalmsdottir 91'), Kehrer (Boboy 91')

Starting XI Union Berlin: Bösl - Steinert, Schneider, Niesler, Weiß - Blaschka, Köster, Moraitou - D. Orschmann, Heiseler, Reissner

Goals: 1-0 Schneider (19’ o.g.), 1-1 Bauereisen (82’), 2-1 Boboy (114’)

Yellow cards: Grant

Referee: Daniel Gil Sanchez (Valencia)

Attendance: 30 at the Oliva Nova Sports Center