Bayer Leverkusen loses to RB Leipzig in top match

The German soccer champions were dealt a blow 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 and were thus beaten by their national rivals for the first time 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 to his regular team and made a total of seven changes. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, who was ill, was still absent and Jonathan Tah, whose move to FC Bayern Munich did not materialize, naturally remained in defence.

Leverkusen start briskly

The Bayer coach said before the game that his team were 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 minute) 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, initially relied on tried-and-tested players and did not make 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 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.

The Leverkusen superiority was exploited by Frimpong after a mistake by Lukas Klostermann, who headed the ball into the Dutchman's path to open the scoring. The 2:0 was a textbook goal 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 for 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.