- Bayer's victorious run continues with a score of 2:3 over Openda's twin set.
Bayer Munich's reigning Bundesliga titans suffered an upset in their initial home fixture of the campaign. Following a remarkable 35-game undefeated stretch in the league, Bayer Leverkusen succumbed 2:3 (2:1) to RB Leipzig, Champions League contestants, on Saturday night. This was the first time since May 27, 2023, that the victors had fallen to domestic rivals.
Leipzig, who had lost their previous three outings against Bayer, put an end to their losing streak against the reigning champions and garnered their third consecutive triumph in a high-stakes encounter. Before 29,615 spectators at the BayArena, goals from Jeremie Frimpong (39') and Alejandro Grimaldo (45') were scored by Leverkusen, but Kevin Kampl (45+7) and two strikes from Lois Openda (57', 80') ensured defeat for the champions.
Following a tight 1:0 victory in the DFB-Pokal against FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Xabi Alonso made seven alterations to his starting lineup. Lukas Hradecky, the ailing goalkeeper, and Jonathan Tah, despite failed negotiations with Bayern Munich, still captained the team.
Leverkusen sets the pace
Prior to kickoff, Leverkusen's coach declared that his team was yet to reach peak form. Confronting Leipzig's strong side provided a chance for improvement. The host team launched attacks and almost scored twice, with Piero Hincapié's header barely touching the underside of the crossbar (10') and Granit Xhaka's long-range attempt barely missing the target five minutes later.
Leipzig, who were still open to signing players until just before the match, trusted in veterans and excluded their newly acquired talent from their starting eleven. With Willi Orban suspended, coach Marco Rose opted for a three-man backline and two additional wingers that retreated during Leverkusen's assaults. Youngster El Chadaille Bitshiabu was chosen to start in defensive midfield.
Rose's ejection
The match saw an early substitution when Amadou Haidara was hit in the head by a header from Victor Boniface, necessitating his replacement by Nicolas Seiwald in defensive midfield. Rose's role in the game came to an end after a foul on Lois Openda, with the RB coach berating referee Matthias Jöllenbeck repeatedly, receiving a yellow-red card as a consequence.
Leverkusen's dominance was rewarded with Frimpong's opening goal, following an error by Lukas Klostermann. The 2:0 was beautifully executed by Alejandro Grimaldo after an impressive team effort. Leipzig's struggle to keep up with the pace was evident, but Kevin Kampl's goal added tension, and Leipzig stepped up their offensive efforts in the second half. Two late goals from Lois Openda (57', 80') sealed Leipzig's victory, and Leverkusen's late comeback attempt fell short.
In the thrilling match, RB Leipzig managed to break their losing streak against Bayer Munich's reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen. The victory marked their third consecutive triumph against strong opposition.
The Champions League contestants, RB Leipzig, showcased their determination to claim victory despite conceding two early goals from Jeremie Frimpong (39') and Alejandro Grimaldo (45').
