Karl Zeiss Jena Women defeated Ingolstadt 3:2 in the third stage of the 2. Bundesliga on Saturday. The result ended a four-match unbeaten run for the hosts and handed the visitors their first defeat of the season. Ingolstadt sit eighth with six points after four games, while Jena remain fifth on nine points.
Both sides entered the fixture having played three matches already. Ingolstadt had won twice and drawn once, while Jena had claimed three straight victories. The visitors turned it on when it mattered, extending their unbeaten run to eight across all competitions before this setback.
Ingolstadt's recent form showed promise with consecutive clean sheets against Eintracht Frankfurt II and Turbine Potsdam. But the defensive solidity they built up crumbled against the sharper away side. To be fair, Jena have not won since their last outing before this match either, arriving at a low point.
The standings now show a seven-point gap between the two sides. Ingolstadt have ground out the win in two of their victories, while Jena's margin of victory varies wildly from their heavy defeats last season. They extended their unbeaten run to four before Saturday's defeat.
What the result means is straightforward: Jena drop from a strong position to still be in contention but with pressure building. Ingolstadt remain mid-table but have lost momentum at a critical stage. The old head settled them down in previous seasons, but this season's results tell a different story.