RB Leipzig Women 1–3 Bayer Leverkusen Women | Frauen Bundesliga | 12 May 2026

Bayer Leverkusen Women delivered a dominant away performance at the RB Leipzig training ground on Tuesday evening, securing a comprehensive 3–1 victory that kept their European qualification hopes firmly alive. The visitors struck twice in a devastating first‑half spell and controlled the contest despite a late Leipzig fightback.

Match Overview

Playing in front of a crowd of 2,100, Leverkusen wasted no time imposing themselves. Midfielder Elisa Senß pulled the strings from the start, and it was her incisive pass that unlocked the Leipzig defence in the 12th minute. Forward Milena Nikolić latched onto the ball, cut inside her marker and fired a low shot past Leipzig goalkeeper Janina Leitzig to make it 1–0.

Leipzig struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Leverkusen press. The hosts’ best chance of the first half came from a corner, but defender Maren Weigel headed straight at the Leverkusen keeper. Instead, it was the visitors who doubled their advantage on the half‑hour mark. A swift counter‑attack saw Lena Lattwein slip a through ball to Sophie Weidauer, who chipped Leitzig from the edge of the box.

Key Moments

• 12’ – Goal (0–1): Milena Nikolić scores with a clinical left‑footed finish after a defence‑splitting pass.
• 30’ – Goal (0–2): Sophie Weidauer’s delicate lob doubles Leverkusen’s lead.
• 58’ – Goal (0–3): Lena Lattwein turns in a corner from the near post.
• 73’ – Goal (1–3): Leipzig substitute Vanessa Fudalla heads home a cross from María Martínez.

Tactical Story

Leverkusen head coach Roberto Pätzold set his team up in a fluid 4‑3‑3 that overloaded the Leipzig midfield. Elisa Senß and Lena Lattwein formed a formidable central partnership, breaking up play and launching quick transitions. Leipzig, by contrast, looked disjointed in possession. Their 4‑4‑2 shape left space between the lines, and Leverkusen exploited that ruthlessly in the first hour.

After the third goal, Leipzig switched to a 3‑5‑2 and pushed higher, which briefly unsettled the visitors. The introduction of Vanessa Fudalla brought energy, and her headed goal gave the home fans hope. However, Leverkusen’s backline — marshalled by Katharina Karp — held firm, and Leitzig was forced into two smart saves in the closing stages to keep the score respectable.

Standout Players

• Lena Lattwein (Leverkusen): A goal and an assist, plus tireless work in midfield. The 26‑year‑old was the game’s most influential player.
• Milena Nikolić (Leverkusen): Scored the opener and stretched the Leipzig defence with her pace.
• Vanessa Fudalla (Leipzig): Provided a spark off the bench with a well‑taken goal.

Season Impact

The victory lifted Leverkusen into fourth place in the Frauen Bundesliga table with 42 points from 22 matches, keeping them within striking distance of a UEFA Women’s Champions League spot. Leipzig remained ninth on 29 points, now six points clear of the relegation play‑off place but without a win in their last three home matches.

With only two rounds remaining, Leverkusen face a tricky fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt next, while Leipzig travel to bottom‑side Jena in a match that could define their survival bid.