Werkself lose 4-2 to Leipzig after leading twice

Peter Bosz made three changes to the side that faced TSG Hoffenheim: The injured Lars Bender and Karim Bellarabi plus Tin Jedvaj (on the bench) were replaced by Mitchell Weiser, Wendell and Charles Aránguiz. Havertz took over from Bellarabi on the right wing. Leipzig, unbeaten in nine Bundesliga games, had to manage without their top striker Yussuf Poulsen who scored twice in the 3-0 win against the Werkself earlier in the season. Today he was sidelined with a cold.

Havertz cool as ice

The hosts were clearly the livelier side and they controlled the game from the start. But Leipzig had the first attempt on goal with Werner hitting a shot wide of the target from the right edge of the penalty area on eight minutes. The Werkself then took a deserved lead two minutes later. Kevin Volland received the ball in the box, dummied Willi Orban who brought him down. A clear penalty! Havertz stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 for Bayer 04 (11'). 

Sabitzer curls in equalizer

Volland had a great chance to make it 2-0 after a fine pass from Julian Brandt but the Werkself number 31 was denied by the RB keeper Peter Gulasci (15'). Two minutes later and another set piece led to a flattering equaliser at 1-1. Aránguiz fouled Werner on the edge of the box and the free kick was curled over the wall into the right corner of the net by Marcel Sabitzer (17').

Kai wonder goal makes it 2-1

The Black and Reds refused to be cowed by the goal conceded – and Havertz was again the man for that special moment: From a Leon Bailey corner Julian Baumgartlinger headed the ball onto Havertz volleyed the ball on the turn into the left corner of the net. The ball went off the inside of the post into the goal to make it 2-1 (23'). A wonder goal from the youngster.

Bayer 04 remained on top and kept pressing the best defence in the league to date this term. Gulasci saved shot from Volland with his foot after whipped-in cross from Bailey (26'). However, on 37 minutes it became clear why there is no room for error against Leipzig. After Bailey lost the ball in midfield, then headed towards Lukas Hradecky but played the ball too far in front of himself allowing Aránguiz to nick it away from his foot. A very important challenge. But then the Werkself counted again. A pass from Weiser was hit just wide of the left upright by Brandt (39'). There was no doubt the Werkself deserved to be 2-1 up at the break.

Bailey's strike ruled out

The hosts started the second 45 minutes at high tempo. And six minutes after the restart, the fans at the BayArena were celebrating again when Bailey smashed the ball into the net at the end of a quick attack. The goal was chalked off after referee Tobias Weltz consulted the VAR and the scoreline remained 2-1. 

Werner levels for RB

At times the encounter became more physical and hectic. It remained a tight game as Leipzig made more effort to get forward – and an individual move from Werner produce the equaliser. Werner beat Weiser on the left side of the penalty area and curled the ball past Hradecky into the right corner of the net to make it 2-2 (63').

Leipzig turn game round with disputed penalty 

The visitors then took a 3-2 lead with a disputed seen. Referee Welz again referred to VAR after the ball hit Weiser's hand in the Werkself penalty area and he again pointed to the spot. A dubious decision as adviser did touch the ball with the tips of his fingers as he attempted to move his hand away. "In my opinion it was unintentional handball and therefore not a penalty," said Markus Merk on Sky. Forsberg did not squander the opportunity as he converted the penalty to make it 3-2 to Leipzig (72').

Cunha seals win

The Werkself fought to avert defeat. Bosz brought on Lucas Alario for Baumgartlinger. And the Argentinian almost made it 3-3 with a header that went inches wide of the goal (75'). But the visitors were clinical with their counter-attack. Substitute Cunha completed her impressive individual move and lobbed the ball over Hradecky to put Leipzig 4-2 up (83'). In the end Bayer 04 lost 4-2 having been in the lead twice in the game.

Double goalscorer Havertz said after the final whistle: "Of course, we hope to do better particularly when you look at the first half. We were clearly in control of the game. For me Mitchell didn't see the ball for the penalty. It's a puzzle to me how you can give a penalty there. At the end of the day we didn't do well enough. We gave the ball away too easily and then ran into too many counter-attack situations. But we won't stick our heads in the sand. It's gonna be difficult now but we still have six games and a good mentality and the team so that we can deal with defeats like that."

The next fixture the Werkself is an away game at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday 13 April. The match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena kicks off at 15.30 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Aránguiz, Baumgartlinger (Alario 74'), Brandt – Havertz, Volland (Paulinho 81'), Bailey 

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi - Klostermann (Mukiele 46'), Konaté, Orban, Halstenberg - Laimer - Haidara (Cunha 46'), Kampl - Forsberg - Sabitzer, Werner

Goals: 1-0 Havertz (11’ pen), 1-1 Sabitzer (17’), 2-1 Havertz (23’), 2-2 Werner (64’), 2-3 Forsberg (74’ pen.), 2-4 Cunha (83’)

Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)

Booked:  Aránguiz, Tah - Orban

Attendance:  28,345