LIVE: Women’s Bundesliga: Hamburger SV against Bayer Leverkusen
Women’s Bundesliga
As of: March 30, 2026 7:54 p.m
The HSV footballers failed to move away from the relegation places in the Bundesliga. After the 1:3 (1:1) defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, the lead over 13th place, which SGS Essen occupies, is only three points.
In the third duel with the Rhinelanders this season – in the first half of the season there was a 1-2 defeat, in the cup round of 16 HSV knocked out Bayer after a penalty shootout – HSV was only able to convince to a limited extent. Especially in the first section, the hosts hardly had any energy on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion.
After the break they knew how to improve, but suffered a deserved defeat against superior Leverkusen. Camilla Linberg scored for Hamburg to make it 1-1 (41′), Vanessa Fudalla (10′), Katharina Piljic (55′) and Julia Mickenhagen (79′) scored for the Werkself.
The Hamburg team continues after the international break on April 24th with the game at 1. FC Nürnberg. The co-promoter is also in danger of relegation as eleventh in the table with four points more than HSV.
Oppressively superior Leverkusen exploits opportunities
Against Leverkusen, HSV lacked almost any Bundesliga maturity until Linberg equalized. Not grippy and consistent enough in duels, lacking ideas and unfocused with the ball at their feet – the home team was disappointing across the board in the first 41 minutes. “More energy,” burst out early on from assistant coach Eren Şen, who was replacing coach Liése Brancão, who had been suspended, on the sidelines.
The Brazilian sat all alone in the stands and watched from there as Fudalla scored her 14th goal of the season with a powerful shot under the crossbar after a beautiful move down Leverkusen’s right side. Afterwards, the Rhinelanders should have increased the score to 2-0 or 3-0. But Cornelia Kramer missed two excellent chances (23rd, 30th).
Defense chief Schulz is injured – Linberg equalizes
HSV, where defense chief Victoria Schulz injured her foot in a defensive action and had to be substituted in the 18th minute, did not take any offensive action until the equalizer.
HSV defender Victoria Schulz was substituted early with an injury.
Linberg’s goal was the hosts’ first shot on goal. And the 1-1 was an effort of will: The Norwegian picked up the pace on the outside line, moved inwards and then had a bit of luck that Claudia Wenger deflected her shot slightly and the finish became an unsustainable arc.
Piljic puts Bayer in the lead again
The equalizer inspired the Hamburg team. After the break they showed a different face from the start, were much better in the duels than in the first half and now combined impressively a few times.
However, Bayer remained the better team in terms of football. The best example of this was the 2-1 result. After winning the ball in her own half, Loreen Bender first elegantly took the ball and then played a dream pass to Piljic, who was successful with a shot into the far corner.
Kramer still unlucky, Mickenhagen very cool
HSV tried to find an answer, but in the absence of the injured top scorer Sophie Hillebrand, they were unable to develop any penetration in the final third of the field. Completely different Bavarian. But the biggest drawback for the Rhinelanders remained the exploitation of opportunities. Kramer missed her third opportunity to score. This time the Dane missed the target (68th) after a cross from Carlotta Wamser from one meter (!) because she hit a hole in the air.
The 23-year-old would probably have done a few laps in her thoughts on the journey back to the Rhine if her missed opportunities had cost her team victory. But thanks to Mickenhagen things turned out differently. Because unlike Kramer, the 20-year-old stayed cool with her chance and scored with a shot into the near corner to make the final score 3-1.
