Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga came to an end at 35 matches, marking their first loss in 15 months as Loïs Openda scored twice to lead Leipzig to a thrilling 3-2 victory on Saturday.
Under the guidance of coach Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen has developed a knack for late-game heroics. Fans held their breath in the 86th minute when the referee reviewed a potential penalty after contact between Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba and Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick.
Ultimately, the referee opted not to award the penalty, resulting in Leverkusen’s first defeat against a German team since May 2023, ending a remarkable run that included their entire title-winning 2023-24 season.
“It’s hard, it’s bitter,” Alonso expressed to German broadcaster Sky. “I don’t think we deserved to lose today.”
Leipzig demonstrated resilience by coming back from a 2-0 deficit, capitalizing on limited opportunities, primarily through counter-attacks. They scored three goals from just 10 shots, while Leverkusen dominated possession with 27 shots on goal.
Leverkusen initially surged ahead with two goals in six minutes during the first half. Jeremie Frimpong intercepted a misplaced pass, leaving defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu behind and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Shortly after, Alex Grimaldo capped off a well-coordinated team play, with new signing Martin Terrier drawing Gulacsi out of position.
However, momentum shifted in Leipzig’s favor just before halftime when Kevin Kampl scored with a header during stoppage time. Openda then made his mark with two clinical strikes, leveling the score with a shot from a tight angle and sealing the comeback with a beautifully curled effort from outside the box.
“Leipzig’s goal from Kampl before the break changed the dynamics of the game,” Alonso noted. “We were ready to continue our strong performance in the second half, but we lost control. The game became too open, and we conceded two goals too easily.”
Leipzig managed to secure this impressive comeback without their coach Marco Rose, who was sent to the stands early on after receiving two yellow cards for dissent.
