22. March 2026
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TSV Bayer Leverkusen – HC Rödertal 25-35 (15-14)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

On 28th February 2026, I finally made it back to Ostermann Arena in Leverkusen. The Werkselfen, the handball team of TSV Bayer Leverkusen, had been relegated to the 2nd Women Handball Bundesliga in the meantime. They especially struggled at the beginning of the season, but had some decent results in the weeks before the match vs. HC Rödertal. The guests from Großröhrsdorf near Dresden in Saxony came to the Rhineland as favorites, being right in the battle for the promotion to Germany’s top league.

This posting comes with a section of 451 major size pictures in the sports galleries. 

 

TSV Bayer Leverkusen – HC Rödertal – Match Report

156 spectators in Leverkusen were absolutely from the first half of their Werkselfen. While initially the match felt to run as expected and the guests took and early lead, the hosts made use of Rödertal’s second 2min penalty and tied the score to 4-4 in the ninth minute. Dana Gruner even gave Leverkusen the 5-4 lead in the 11th minute for the first time. The match was nervous on both sides, and especially the guests felt to struggle following their game plan in the first thirty minutes. One factor for a close match was also Merle-Sophie Muth, Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, who played an excellent first half.

The match stayed close, neither team could take a lead higher than one goal in the remaining first half. The best opportunity for that was likely on the hosts, who lead by 15-14 with ball in hand and some ten seconds left to play. However, they pushed a bit too much and were even lucky that Rödertal did not tie the score right before intermission after they interfered a pass. Thus, the clear underdog was in the lead at halftime, playing a very concentrated and solid game, much better than you could expect before that match.

 

A very different second Half in Leverkusen

The very first minutes of the second half felt being very similar. Leverkusen felt to profit from an overall nervous game. Their first goal in the second half finally gave them their first two-goal lead in this match. To shorten the story and thus reduce the pain on the Werkselfen side, the 16-14 intermediate score was their only two goal lead in the entire match. It felt like that goal by Sophia Cormann had changed the game. Suddenly, Leverkusen lacked precision in offense and made Larissa Schultrups on the Rödertal side come bac into the game. Additionally, the guests became much better in breaking through the Leverkusen defensive line.

The match was very one-sided now. In the middle of the second half, Leverkusen had a more than eight minute period without scoring a goal, while Rödertal rolled over their defense. The guests lead by seven goals in the 46th minute, 25-18. Even though Leverkusen felt to recover slightly, they could not stop the guests from Saxony any more, who steadily raised the lead. Bo Dekker’s goal in the 57th minute lead to a twelve goal lead. Remarkably, it was that time of the match when everything was decided in which Leverkusen did play better and almost competitive again. Nonetheless, the final score of 25-35 was finally absolutely deserved.

 

TSV Bayer Leverkusen – HC Rödertal – My View of the Match

The final score does not tell the story of the match, and it does not tell the dramatic part of it. Leverkusen had been competitive for some 32 minutes. And then? The story of the match in Leverkusen reminded me of the Austria vs. France WFC Qualification match I recently covered. Both teams, Leverkusen and Austria were on a very tough mission. And they had the momentum on their side, they could have made it. Suddenly, they lost it and struggled with the situation.

Sports is a lot about psychology and mental skills. This match gave the host team a lessen. I felt really bad for the Bayer ladies, who showed a brave fight and also did not give up. But at a certain point, their situation did not give them a chance to come back – and gave Rödertal a very deserved victory abroad.

 

TSV Bayer Leverkusen – HC Rödertal – Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen: 52 Merle Muth, 95 Nela Zuzic – 2 Annika Ingenpaß, 3 Dana Gruner, 5 Veerle Heebing, 6 Astrid Richartz, 9 Jessy-Marlonne Soiza, 10 Sophia Cormann, 11 Mia Cruzado, 14 Henriette Clauberg, 15 Leah Kreiselman, 19 Denise Mol, 24 Britt van der Baan, 27 Luise Gruber

HC Rödertal: 1 Larissa Schutrups, 21 Ann Rammer – 3 Mor Shaul, 10 Pia Loona Kastner, 11 Vanessa Huth,  17 Leila Ott, 22 Bo Dekker, 23 Jasmin Eckart, 24 Zoe Davenport, 27 Lena Smolik, 30 Rozemarijn Irma Genevieve Alderden, 32 Arwen Gorb, 35 Isabel Wolff,  55 Alicja Pekala, 89 Eleonora Stankovic

 

TSV Bayer Leverkusen – HC Rödertal – Gallery

In the sports gallery, there is a designated major size picture gallery with 451 pictures of this match at

 

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