Bayer 04 Leverkusen Women delivered a birthday gift to head coach Roberto Pätzold on his 47th birthday with a 6-0 thrashing of Slovan Liberec in a pre-season friendly on 22 July 2026. The win in Rieden’s Weinfurtner-Arena gave the side a morale boost ahead of the Bundesliga campaign, as Leverkusen sit 6th in the table with zero goals scored and zero conceded so far in pre-season action.

What happened in the match?

From the first whistle, Bayer Leverkusen controlled proceedings. Maja Sternad opened the scoring in the 8th minute after a corner, and the pressure never relented. Selina Ostermeier came close to doubling the lead shortly after, heading just wide. Caroline Kehrer made it 2-0 in the 55th minute after a pass from Sana Coskun, while Charlotte Voll denied Slovan Liberec a lifeline with a sharp save just before half-time.

Natasha Kowalski stole the show. The 23-year-old signing from SGS Essen stepped up to convert two direct free-kicks in the 67th and 84th minutes, making it 3-0 and 4-0. Valentina Mädl added a fifth in the 97th after a neat move involving Paulina Tomasiak, before Justine Brandau headed home from a corner in the 107th to seal the rout. Six goals in total - all gifts for Pätzold’s milestone birthday.

Why this matters for Bayer Leverkusen

The 6-0 win is more than a friendly result. It signals depth in attack ahead of the new Bundesliga season, with new signings like Kowalski, Brandau and Lobke Loonen already making an impact. Brandau, formerly of Feyenoord Rotterdam, praised the team spirit: „Normally it takes time to get to know people, but here it was fun from the start.“

Loonen, who arrived from FC Utrecht, added: „I was already excited to join. Having Justine here makes it even better.“ The pair have been friends since their youth national team days and see their bond as a key asset as they target a Champions League push with Bayer 04.

New faces in the squad

Alongside Kowalski, Brandau and Loonen, eleven new players have joined the squad. The pre-season camp in Rieden provided the perfect environment to integrate them and refine tactics under Pätzold. The players themselves highlighted the positive atmosphere and shared ambition.

What’s next for Bayer Leverkusen?

After returning to Leverkusen on 27 July, the team will enjoy a free week before resuming Bundesliga preparations. The season opener is set for between 21-24 August, when Bayer 04 travel to Leipzig. With zero goals conceded and zero scored in pre-season, the side looks ready to kick off the new campaign with confidence. The next steps will show whether this momentum carries into the Bundesliga as Leverkusen eyes a top-six finish.