Leverkusen's nimbus falls. After 35 Bundesliga games without defeat, the Werkself lost 3:2 at home to RB Leipzig. The last defeat was 3:0 in Bochum on May 27, 2023.
The German champions were caught out in their first home game of the season. After 35 Bundesliga games without defeat, Bayer Leverkusen lost 2:3 (2:1) to Champions League contenders RB Leipzig in the top match on Saturday evening, the first time they had been beaten by national rivals since May 27, 2023.
Leipzig, who had recently lost three times to Bayer, also ended their losing streak against the defending champions and celebrated their third competitive win in a row. Jeremie Frimpong (39') and Alejandro Grimaldo (45') scored for Leverkusen in front of 29,6150 spectators in the BayArena. Kevin Kampl (45.+7) and two goals from Lois Openda (57./80.) sealed the defeat for the champions.
After the narrow 1:0 win in the DFB Cup at FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Xabi Alonso rotated back into the starting eleven and made a total of seven changes. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, who was ill, was still absent and Jonathan Tah, whose transfer to FC Bayern Munich did not materialize, naturally remained in the defence.
Leverkusen start briskly
The Bayer coach said before the game that his team was not yet at the top level. His team then had the opportunity to improve against a strong Leipzig side. The hosts immediately set the tone offensively and were unlucky that Piero Hincapie's header only hit the underside of the crossbar (10th) and Granit Xhaka's long-range shot five minutes later only just missed the target.
The visitors, who were still active on the transfer market until shortly before the end, opted for tried-and-tested players for the time being and did without any new signings in the starting line-up. With the suspended Willi Orban missing from the back line, coach Marco Rose opted for a back three with two additional attacking wingers who dropped back deep when Leverkusen attacked. Rose opted for the young El-Chadaille Bitshiabu in the starting eleven in the defensive center for the first time.
Yellow-red card for Rose
Leipzig's coach had to make an early change, however, as Amadou Haidara was hit on the head by Victor Boniface's overhead kick and was substituted on medical advice. Nicolas Seiwald replaced him in defensive midfield. The game was then over for Rose, at least on the sidelines. After a foul on Lois Openda, the RB coach complained loudly and repeatedly to referee Matthias Jöllenbeck, who first cautioned the Leipzig coach and then showed him a yellow card.
Frimpong took advantage of Leverkusen's superiority after a mistake by Lukas Klostermann, who headed the ball into the Dutchman's path to open the scoring. The 2:0 was a goal straight out of the textbook after an exemplary run of play by Martin Terrier, Florian Wirtz and the goalscorer Grimaldo.
Kampl's follow-up goal brought more excitement to the game, especially as the visitors began to mount more attacks. It was more or less the starting signal for a furious second half from the visitors. Openda did indeed manage to curl the ball past keeper Kovar from an acute angle and surprise the Bayer keeper with a long-range shot in the 80th minute to make it 3:2. Leverkusen threw everything forward once more, but this time there was no late comeback.
The live ticker to read afterwards
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
RB Leipzig
- Jeremie Frimpong - 1:0 (38.)
- Álex Grimaldo - 2:0 (45.)
- (45.+7.) 2:1 - Kevin Kampl
- (57.) 2:2 - Loïs Openda
- (80.) 2:3 - Loïs Openda
-
Liveticker
-
Liveticker closed
-
-
90.+9.End of 2nd half
-
89.Substitution in RB Leipzig
Arthur Vermeeren
Midfielder
-
89.Substitution out RB Leipzig
Benjamin Henrichs
Midfielder
-
89.Substitution in RB Leipzig
Christoph Baumgartner
Midfielder
-
89.Substitution out RB Leipzig
Kevin Kampl
Midfielder
-
89.Substitution in RB Leipzig
Yussuf Poulsen
Striker
-
89.Substitution out RB Leipzig
Loïs Openda
Striker
-
86.Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Arthur
Defender
-
86.Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Edmond Tapsoba
Defender
-
82.Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Edmond Tapsoba
-
80.Goal for RB Leipzig, 2:3 through Loïs Openda (Antonio Nusa)
Loïs Openda
Striker
Assist: Antonio Nusa
Striker
-
77.Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Nathan Tella
Midfielder
-
77.Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Jeremie Frimpong
Midfielder
-
77.Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Patrik Schick
Striker
-
77.Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Victor Boniface
Striker
-
71.Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Amine Adli
Striker
-
71.Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Martin Terrier
Striker
-
67.Substitution in RB Leipzig
Antonio Nusa
Striker
-
67.Substitution out RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko
Striker
-
61.Yellow card RB Leipzig
Lukas Klostermann
-
57.Goal for RB Leipzig, 2:2 through Loïs Openda (Benjamin Sesko)
Loïs Openda
Striker
Assist: Benjamin Sesko
Striker
-
46.Kick-off 2nd half
-
45.+8.End of 1st half
-
45.+7.Goal for RB Leipzig, 2:1 through Kevin Kampl (Benjamin Henrichs)
Kevin Kampl
Midfielder
Assist: Benjamin Henrichs
Midfielder
-
45.Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 2:0 through Álex Grimaldo (Florian Wirtz)
Álex Grimaldo
Midfielder
Assist: Florian Wirtz
Striker
-
38.Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 1:0 through Jeremie Frimpong
Jeremie Frimpong
Midfielder
-
18.Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Jeremie Frimpong
-
15.Substitution in RB Leipzig
Nicolas Seiwald
Midfielder
-
15.Substitution out RB Leipzig
Amadou Haidara
Midfielder
-
12.Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Victor Boniface
-
1.Start of the match