Coach Gerardo Seoane made two changes to his team following Thursday’s 3-2 Europa League win at home to Celtic. Edmond Tapsoba and Patrik Schick came in for Odilon Kossounou and Paulinho, who both dropped to the bench. It was a comeback for the Czech striker following an ankle injury on Matchday 9 but also a landmark game as the 25-year-old made his 50th competitive appearance for Leverkusen.
And he was immediately into the action as the Werkself created the first good chance. Schick played the ball into the path of Amine Adli, who put just wide from a narrow angle with just two minutes on the clock. The Leipzig net bulged only six minutes later when Diaby thought he’d put Bayer 04 in front, but a lengthy review saw it ruled out for offside against assister Adli.
Leverkusen were looking good and allowed the hosts nothing in the opening stages. Seoane’s side tried to impose themselves by attacking with speed, which bore fruits in the 21st minute when Exequiel Palacios played a brilliant through ball for Wirtz, who shrugged off Angelino in the box before putting the ball past Josep Martinez for the opening goal. It was a fully deserved lead on the road.
And the play continued to go towards the Leipzig goal. Jonathan Tah lifted his head on the halfway line and played a lovely chip behind the RB defence. Diaby showed great flexibility to bring it down with his first touch before burying it with his second into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box. 2-0 was also how it stood going into half-time.
Chances flowed at both ends following the break. Captain Lukas Hradecky produced a great save to deny Konrad Laimer before Adli put a powerful effort straight at Martinez. Leipzig started to up the pressure, but Bayer 04 stood firm. It was a bit of a shock, though, when the hosts did finally get a goal back. Christopher Nkunku’s cross from the left was met by the head of Silva, who suddenly had Leipzig back in the game.
However, that score only lasted 127 seconds before the Werkself restored their two-goal advantage. Diaby with the pass to Frimpong on the right of the box, whose effort from a narrowing angle took a telling deflection off Angelino and over Martinez to make it 3-1. It was the Dutch full-back’s first Bundesliga goal.
The home side had more of the ball for the rest of the game, but found no way past the Leverkusen defence, with Tapsoba, Tah and substitute Kossounou keeping the shop shut. Meanwhile, it was almost four at the other end, but Diaby was denied by the post in the 72nd minute. With around 120 seconds to go, referee Benjamin Cortus halted play to go review an incident in the Leverkusen box. Tapsoba was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area and a penalty was given. Szoboszlai stepped up to take but found no way past a superb Hradecky, who tipped the ball onto the post to his right.
It means the Werkself remain unbeaten on the road in the Bundesliga this season (four wins, three draws) and claimed three huge points against a rival in the race for the Champions League places. Seoane’s side climb up to third in the table. Next up for Bayer 04 is promoted Greuther Fürth at the BayArena on Saturday, 4 December at 15:30 CET.
Match stats:
Leipzig: Martinez – Mukiele, Klostermann (Bonnah 84'), Gvardiol, Angelino – Laimer (Henrichs 73'), Kampl (Adams 73') – Nkunku, Forsberg (Haidara 84') – Brobbey (Szoboszlai 43'), Silva
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Andrich (Demirbay 80'), Palacios – Diaby (Alario 88'), Wirtz (Amiri 88'), Adli (Aranguiz 63') – Schick (Kossounou 63')
Goals: 0-1 Wirtz (21'), 0-2 Diaby (34'), 1-2 Silva (62'), 1-3 Frimpong (64')
Yellow cards: Forsberg – Andrich, Hradecky, Frimpong
Referee: Benjamin Cortus
Attendance: 0
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