Tension behind Bayern
Leverkusen wins top game – BVB now second
Updated 12/20/2025 – 8:37 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
The two top Bundesliga teams met in Leipzig. In the end, the hosts came away empty-handed – even though they took the lead.
RB Leipzig lost the last top Bundesliga game of the year. The Saxons gave up a 1-0 lead against Bayer Leverkusen and in the end the scoreboard read 1-3. Three of the four goals in the first half came within nine minutes. Xaver Schlager gave Leipzig the lead after 35 minutes before Martin Terrier (40th) and Patrik Schick (44th) turned the game around. Montrell Culbreath scored the final point in stoppage time (90+7).
Leipzig lost second place in the table due to the defeat and was now only fourth. BVB starts the new year in second place in the table, Leverkusen has taken third place.
Under close observation by global football boss Klopp and Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, who were sitting in the stands together for the first time at an RB home game, Ole Werner started the recovered Romulo from the start and even lined up Conrad Harder alongside him. After the many injury absences and being left out for the Africa Cup with the recently outstanding Yan Diomandé, Tidiam Gomis celebrated his starting eleven debut on the right.
Bayer coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was also struggling with personnel, changed to five positions after the 2-0 win against Cologne. However, Christian Kofane, who will only travel to his Cameroon team after the game, initially took a seat on the bench. Ex-Leipzig player Patrik Schick was allowed to start in attack for him.
The players were up to speed right from the start. Péter Gulácsi prevented the early deficit against ex-colleague Schick (5th), who was suddenly free. Then Harder (6th) tested Bayer keeper Mark Flekken on the other side with a long-range shot from 18 meters. After a dream pass from Romulo, Christoph Baumgartner (10th) slid into the ball, but he didn’t hit the goal. Gomis (18th) had the best chance to take the lead from twelve meters on the left in a 3-2 majority situation, but his ball was blocked. It was the expected offensive exchange of blows between both teams, who scored 19 goals in the last four duels.