Bayer Leverkusen beaten in the Bundesliga for first time in 15 months by Leipzig
Bayer Leverkusen lost a Bundesliga game for the first time in 15 months when Lois Openda scored twice in a 3-2 comeback win for Leipzig on Saturday. Under coach Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen has made crucial late goals a speciality. It briefly seemed like that might happen again when the referee went to review a possible penalty in the 86th minute after Leipzig's Castello Lukeba and Leverkusen's Patrik Schick made contact.
The referee decided against the spot kick and Leverkusen lost to a German opponent for the first time since May 2023 after 35 Bundesliga games unbeaten, including its entire title-winning 2023-24 season.
«It's hard, it's bitter,» Alonso told German broadcaster Sky. «I don't think we deserved to lose today.»
Leipzig came back from 2-0 down as it made the most of relatively few chances, generally on the counter, to seal a comeback win. Its three goals came from 10 shots to Leverkusen's 27.
Leverkusen scored twice in the space of six first-half minutes, first when Jeremie Frimpong intercepted a loose pass, sent defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu the wrong way and beat goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Alex Grimaldo then finished off a team move that included new signing Martin Terrier drawing Gulacsi out of position.
Still, the momentum was with Leipzig at halftime after Kevin Kampl's added-time header, and Openda then turned the game around with two precise finishes. He leveled the score with a shot from a tight angle near the touchline, and made it 3-2 with a curling effort from outside the box.
«Leipzig's
