Head coach Xabi Alonso made two changes to his team from last week’s 1-0 victory in Augsburg, restoring Tah and Florian Wirtz to the side in place of Robert Andrich and Adam Hlozek.
Both teams looked to press from the off in freezing temperatures at the Red Bull Arena, but it was the home side who saw more of the ball. Benjamin Sesko produced the first alarm bells of the evening, but Tah managed to block his route to goal inside the box. Openda was then denied by Lukas Hradecky shortly after. However, with eight minutes on the clock, Leipzig got down the left through Sesko, who pulled back for Xaver Schlager. His clipped ball across the box picked out Xavi, who took it down and then spun to pick out the near bottom corner. Marco Rose’s team continued to apply the pressure once again, with Sesko narrowly missing a cross and then Mohamed Simakan forcing Hradecky into action from distance. The Werkself captain was again on hand to cut out a counter before Openda could reach it.
There was little to see at the other end from Bayer 04 as they failed to string together any meaningful attacks. Only Alejandro Grimaldo mustered up a chance that was saved. Jeremie Frimpong then had to go off after half an hour following a heavy blow to his leg, with Tella on in his place. As the first half wore on, Leipzig focused more on defending as Leverkusen started to come to life, but without any real impact as it remained 1-0 at the break.
After the restart it was the Werkself who came flying out of the blocks and struck with their first attack. A peach of a low cross from Grimaldo evaded Patrik Schick in the middle but was perfect for Tella to tuck in at the far post with 47 minutes gone. However, Leipzig had a quick response as Openda launched a counter from a corner before Dani Olmo returned the ball for the Belgian to restore the hosts’ advantage. But again, Leverkusen hit back as Tah climbed highest at the far post to head in a Jonas Hofmann corner less than 10 minutes later. The game was completely open now. Leipzig were defending while Wirtz & Co. kept producing promising attacks, like in the 70th minute when Grimaldo fired just over from outside the box.
Alonso’s league leaders kept going and ultimately got their reward when another corner – this time from Grimaldo on the right – was turned in by Hincapie from close range to finally put Bayer 04 in front in the game with only moments remaining. They held on to retain their status as Europe’s only unbeaten club this season and extend their undefeated start to 2023/24 to 27 matches in all competitions, opening up a seven-point lead over Bayern Munich, who have two games in hand.
Next up for Leverkusen is the first home game of 2024 as Borussia Mönchengladbach visit the BayArena on Saturday, 27 January at 18:30 CET.
Match stats:
RB Leipzig: Blaswich – Simakan (Henrichs 74'), Klostermann, Lukeba, Raum – Seiwald (Kampl 75'), Schlager – Olmo (Baumgartner 74'), Xavi (Elmas 84') – Sesko (Poulsen 74'), Openda
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong (Tella 32'), Xhaka, Palacios (Andrich 88'), Grimaldo – Hofmann, Wirtz – Schick (Hlozek 90'+2)
Goals: 1-0 Simons (8'), 1-1 Tella (47'), 2-1 Openda (56'), 2-2 Tah (64'), 2-3 Hincapie (90'+2)
Yellow cards: Simons, Schlager - Tah, Alonso (head coach), Stanisic, Wirtz
Referee: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck (Freiburg)
Attendance: 46,529 at the Red Bull Arena
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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