Xabi Alonso makes five changes to the team that started Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat away at Atletico Madrid. Lukas Hradecky returned in goal for Matej Kovar, while Garcia, Robert Andrich, Arthur and Schick came in for Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Grimaldo, Jeremie Frimpong and Nathan Tella.
The game got off to an even start as both sides looked to contain in the early stages. The first real chance fell to the champions with Nordi Mukiele’s thumping effort from range against his former club. The hosts then tested Hradecky with Xavi Simons’ shot from the corner of the box. The game finally burst to life in the 19th minute when Florian Wirtz produced a brilliant solo run up the left channel, got past several defenders before striking the frame of the goal from a tight angle, but Schick was on hand to put away the rebound. Leipzig tried to find a way back with crosses into the box, but the closest they came was with a Lois Openda header that went over.
A Wirtz run led to the next good chance and ultimately goal when he teed up Garcia to put Leverkusen 2-0 up after 36 minutes. Again, the hosts sought to respond and this time did when a Raum free-kick took a deflection to wrongfoot Hradecky and find the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar as the Werkself went into the break 2-1 up.
Dann war es erneut Wirtz mit einem Solo-Lauf, der die nächste gefährliche Situation einleitete und im Anschluss auf Teamkollege Garcia ablegte - der Spanier erhöhte überlegt auf 2:0 für die Werkself (36.). Doch abermals hielt das Team von Cheftrainer Marco Rose dagegen - so verkürzte David Raum nach einem abgefälschten Freistoß und unter Mithilfe des Querbalkens aus zentraler Position auf 1:2. Damit ging es wenig später in die Kabinen.
The second half again saw Wirtz at the heart of a promising Bayer 04 attack as he broke before teeing up substitute Palacios. The Argentine rounded goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi only to then see his effort cleared off the line by the recovering Raum. Leipzig upped the pressure as the half wore on but found no way through the Leverkusen defence. Alonso’s men were content to soak things up and counter, which they almost did to devastating effect just after the hour mark when Wirtz was again denied by the frame of the goal. The pattern of play remained the same after that as Leipzig poured forward, the Werkself would reclaim the ball and then look to break. However, a free-kick eventually told for the hosts again with five minutes remaining as Tapsoba headed into his own net from a Xavi delivery.
Next week sees two home fixtures, starting with the final game of the Champions League’s league phase as Sparta Prague come to the BayArena on Wednesday (9pm CET). The Werkself then host Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga the following Sunday (5.30pm).
Match stats:
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Klostermann (Baku 66'), Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum – Nusa (Baumgartner 66'), Vermeeren (Seiwald 51'), Kampl (Haidara 51'), Xavi – Openda (Poulsen 74'), Sesko
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba – Arthur (Frimpong 65'), Garcia, Andrich (Palacios 46'), Xhaka, Hincapie – Schick (Tella 65'), Wirtz
Goals: 0-1 Schick (19'), 0-2 Garcia (36'), 1-2 Raum (42'), 2-2 Tapsoba (og, 85')
Yellow cards: Xavi - Andrich, Tapsoba
Referee: Bastian Dankert
Attendance: 46,793 at the Red Bull Arena
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