BVB women draw with Köln in top-of-the-table clash | OneFootball

Head coach Markus Högner made two changes to the starting line-up for the top match before the winter break. Compared to the 4-0 win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen's U23s, Ann-Sophie Vogel and Celina Baum, who had recovered from injury, started in place of Jasmin Jabbes and Mia Böger at the Rote Erde Stadium. In the last home game of the year, 2,036 fans saw the BVB women get off to an energetic start on the early morning of St. Nicholas Day.

Early lead for the Black & Yellows

Immediately after the kick-off, the BVB women pushed for the opening goal. In the fourth minute, the Black and Yellows combined in front of the opponent's goal via Ronja Leubner. The cross to Rita Schumacher, who had run with her, was defused at the last minute by the Köln defence. The same scene was repeated two minutes later: after a long ball from Frederike Kempe, Ronja Leubner was once again free in front of goal in the opponent's penalty area. This time, she calmly squared to Celina Baum, who had an easy finish to make it 1-0 in the sixth minute.

After the opening goal, the game became more balanced. In a competitive first half punctuated by injury breaks, for long stretches both teams were only able to pose any viable threat from set-piece situations. Shortly before half-time (43), the BVB women, led by Rita Schumacher, made one last foray into the opposition's box in the first half. Her cross, which was intercepted by goalkeeper Anika Dübel, was the last notable action of the match before the two teams went in for the break.

After the break, the visitors from Cologne started more energetically. BVB keeper Laura van der Laan was able to protect the narrow lead by denying Marie Meissner from close range after a corner (55). Nine minutes later, the keeper finally conceded her first goal in seven home games in the Regionalliga West. Once again, it was a cross played to Marie Meissner, who found the back of the net with a first-time finish to make it 1-1 (64).

The BVB women did not give up, fought their way back into the game in the final quarter of an hour and had their best chance to regain the lead through Paula Reimann (77), whose effort from 11 metres out after a pass from Ronja Leubner missed the target by mere inches. With numerous corners and a shot from Jasmin Jabbes (84), the BVB women repeatedly threatened the 1. FC Köln goal, but were unable to reward themselves with a late winner.

The 1-1 draw leaves them three points behind 1. FC Köln's U21s in the table. The BVB women will take a break for the winter after the upcoming week of training. On 20 December, Dortmund's indoor city championship will take place again this year, where the Borussia women will defend their title from last year. After training resumes in the new year (12 January 2026), the Black & Yellows will play a number of friendly matches before continuing their Regionalliga West campaign against Borussia Mönchengladbach's second team on 15 March.