Werkself review #RBLB04: Comeback kings win again

Summary: A game of two halves, two crucial set pieces

Leipzig made the better start to the match and quickly exploited their advantage: Xaver Schlager found Xavi Simons and he netted an impressive strike on the turn to give RBL the early lead (8'). Bayer 04 looked to hit back with Alejandro Grimaldo creating a chance on 17 minutes – almost the only attack on the opposition goal by a thwarted Werkself. The team under head coach Xabi Alonso then suffered a bitter blow: Winger Jeremie Frimpong went down in pain and he had to be substituted. Nathan Tella replaced him on 31 minutes. The Black and Reds then increasingly took command of proceedings after a difficult start to the game.

The visitors were more dominant from the start of the second half and the first attack led to the leveller from Tella three minutes after the restart. The Nigeria international was on the end of an excellent assist from Grimaldo leaving him with a tap-in. Bayer 04 continued to create good chances. But, on 56 minutes, a corner from the Black and Reds ended with RBL mounting a counter-attack that saw Lois Openda restore the lead for the hosts. A corner for Leverkusen on 64 minutes proved decisive: Grimaldo curled the ball into the box and Jonathan Tah was in the right spot to head it into the back of the net to level at 2-2. Tah and Co. pressed for the victory. Added time brought a result that seemed impossible at the start of the match: Another corner found Piero Hincapie who converted the last-minute chance to secure a perfect start to the Rückrunde from a Bayer 04 perspective (90+2'). The two goals were numbers 14 and 15 from set pieces – the highest number in the league. The match report.

Reaction: "Showed another side of this team"

Alonso summed up the match at the post-match press conference as follows: "We saw a very intense game where anything could have happened. We’re happy we were able to score the third goal in the end. Leipzig were a strong opponent and it was very tough. We didn't do well in the first half and Leipzig often found space for Xavi and Openda." But the Spaniard added: "We did better in the second half. It was a great counter-attack by Leipzig but conceding did not bother me. I was confident we could do it as we have a strong mentality."

Jonas Hofmann said: "We made it difficult for ourselves in the first half and we weren't aggressive enough in challenges and were unable to win the second ball. Xabi said a lot of good things at half-time to address things. We adjusted our approach to the game well and we had more possession again and that gave us confidence and the chance to express ourselves. I think we deserved to win in the end." Granit Xhaka declared: "Being able to come back after the first half showed another side of this team."

Goalscorer Tella was also happy: "I knew I had to give my all. It was the start of our comeback. We knew we could turn the game around."

What the papers say: "Leverkusen confirm invincibility"

The Süddeutsche Zeitung headline reads: “Leverkusen confirm invulnerability." The WAZ reports: "Leverkusen are unbeatable." The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung called it a "High quality football match." The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger saw it as follows: "Leverkusen unimpressed by Leipzig" and they praised Hincapie: "Even as Leverkusen's back three wobbled in the first half as RB Leipzig pressed with their attacking quality, the 22-year-old remained alert. Hincapie took the opportunity presented by the absence of Odilon Kossounou and Edmond Tapsoba."

Personnel: Grimaldo ever ready, Tella on target again

Tella demonstrates efficiency: Only Paulo Sergio (41 minutes against Bayern Munich in 1996) and Josef Nehl (36 minutes against VfL Bochum in 1992) scored earlier off the bench for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga as sub Tella did against RB Leipzig (46 minutes). The Nigerian has scored both his Bundesliga goals coming off the bench. Alonso praised his winger at the post-match press conference: "It was brilliant. He had a good impact on our game and not just with his goal." Grimaldo also impressed: The Spaniard has scored six goals and provided four assists away from home this season – that is more than any other player in the league. Against Leipzig, he came up with two assists for the first time in a Bundesliga match.

Tah picked up a fifth yellow card so the defender is suspended for the next match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Stats: More wins than last season

The Werkself had 18 shots on goal, RB Leipzig had ten. Bayer 04 had 60% possession and 50% completed challenges. The Black and Red pass completion was 90% with the team from Saxony clocking up 80%. Bayer 04 won after being behind at half-time in the Bundesliga for the first time since 19 March 2023 (against Bayern Munich). The victory over RB Leipzig means Leverkusen now have more wins this term than in the whole of last season (15).

Outlook: First home game in 2024

The first home game in the Rückrunde sees Bayer 04 return to the BayArena with Borussia Mönchengladbach the visitors on Saturday 27 January. The kick-off is at 18.30 CET. The match is already a sell-out.