In the first big marquee game of the Bundesliga season, RB Leipzig ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten league run as they came from 2-0 down to beat the defending champions 3-2.
Leverkusen were the dominant side in the first half but struggled to make things click right until Leipzig head coach Marco Rose was sent off for protesting a challenge from Jonathan Tah on Loïs Openda. Then Leverkusen started to get into their flow and opened the scoring when Jeremie Frimpong was played through, forcing Bitshiabu to completely miss his slide tackle before slotting past Peter Gulacsi.
Just before halftime, Leverkusen would then double their lead when the ball was played across the face of the goal by Florian Wirtz and converted by Alejandro Grimaldo. However, against the run of play, Leipzig would get one back when former Leverkusen players Benjamin Henrichs and Kevin Kampl combined to set up an interesting second half.
At half-time, Leipzig clearly had a few Red Bulls as in the second half they started a lot more lively and equalised in the 58th minute when Loïs Openda was played through by Benjamin Seško.
The game then opened up more but Leverkusen remained dominant but Gulacsi held firm making several good saves to keep Die Werkself out, in the 80th minute Openda would then receive a pass from Antonio Nusa and with a long-range effort beat Matej Kovar to give Leipzig the lead. Leverkusen would continue to force saves from Gulacsi but Leipzig was able to weather the storm and end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run.
At the end of the day, Leverkusen will feel like they deserved more from the game as they were on top for the majority of it but, like last weekend against Borussia Mönchengladbach, complacency may have set in and they allowed Leipzig to get back into the game. On the positive side, Leverkusen will no longer have the record of remaining unbeaten looming over them.
When the Bundesliga returns after the international break, Leverkusen will face Hoffenheim while Leipzig will host Union Berlin.
Bayer Leverkusen XI:
Matej Kovar (5), Edmond Tapsoba (5), Jonathan Tah (5), Piero Hincapié (5), Jeremie Frimpong (7), Aleix García (5), Granit Xhaka (6), Alejandro Grimaldo (6), Martin Terrier (5), Florian Wirtz (6), Victor Boniface (5)
Others: Amine Adli (5), Nathan Tella (5), Patrik Schick (5), Arthur (-)
RB Leipzig XI:
Peter Gulacsi (7), Benjamin Henrichs (6), Lukas Klostermann (4), Castello Lukeba (6), El Chadaille Bitshiabu (5), David Raum (5), Amadou Haidara (-), Kevin Kampl (6), Xavi Simons (5), Loïs Openda (8), Benjamin Seško (6)
Others: Nicolas Seiwald (5), Antonio Nusa (6), Yussuf Poulsen (-), Christoph Baumgartner (-), Arthur Vermeeren (-)
GGFN Man of the Match: Loïs Openda (8)
The Belgian provided the energy and drive that Leipzig lacked in the first half and needed after the break to come from behind and beat Leverkusen. The 24-year-old caused plenty of issues with his runs in behind for the Leverkusen back line and has now kickstarted his season with a brace. If Leipzig are to achieve anything this season Openda will be key to it all.
A special mention also goes to Gulacsi who made several key saves to keep Leverkusen out right at the end of the game.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
