Eighth game, seventh win, first place: Bayer Leverkusen also won at VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. In the end, Leverkusen had to tremble again.
Jeremie Frimpong put Leverkusen in the lead in the 13th minute in the 2-1 (1-1) win on Saturday (October 21, 2023), before Wolfsburg Maxence Lacroix The equalizer was achieved shortly before the break (41′). Leverkusen’s left-back Álex Grimaldo made the decision (62′).
With the seventh win in the eighth Bundesliga game, Bayer defended their lead in the table. Leverkusen’s lead (22 points) over second-placed VfB Stuttgart is one point. “We know what we can do, my boys gave everything until the end”said Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso.
After their fourth defeat, VfL Wolfsburg remains in no man’s land in the table (12 points).
Leverkusen takes the lead – and then weakens
The lead for Leverkusen fell early, and it was a curious one: Victor Boniface dribbled in the Wolfsburg penalty area and then crossed with great feeling to the far post. Frimpong had guessed this, he took the ball straight out of the air from a tight angle. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Pavao Pervan, who was standing in for the injured Koen Casteels, might have been able to make a save going forward. Instead, he held on to the ball – only he held it behind the goal line.
Leverkusen got off to a better start in this game, but the lead was not followed by a second goal, but rather a surprising phase of weakness. Wolfsburg had a few chances and the equalizer would have been possible.
But there was always something: first appeared Tiago Tomas in front of Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, who was already on the ground in this situation. Tiago Tomas shot, but Hradecky threw his hands up and actually parried (15th). And less than two minutes later, a shot from Ridle Baku was just centimeters away from equalizing.
Lacroix rewards Wolfsburg’s efforts
It was Wolfsburg’s best phase, the team only managed one goal Niko Kovac not in these minutes. Shortly before the break, the Lower Saxony team were able to celebrate: After a corner, a shot by Yannick Gerhardt was initially blocked. The rebound landed at Moritz Lenz, who carefully put it down for Lacroix. And Lacroix took the shot straight away, it was a well-placed shot – 1:1.
Leverkusen’s Boniface narrowly fails twice
And Leverkusen’s offensive? Last was the team and the coach Xabi Alonso has often been praised for her ideas, the good football and the many goals. This time there was little to see at first. Bayer only had one more chance before the break, but it was pretty good: Boniface came free to shoot with his right foot, and there wasn’t much missing (31′).
After just under an hour, Leverkusen took control of the game again – and almost got rewarded straight away. Boniface was involved again, this time he let his opponent Jenz run into space with a physical illusion, then he shot, but aimed centimeters too high (61st).
Grimaldo makes Leverkusen cheer
Less than sixty seconds later, Leverkusen were celebrating. And this time Boniface was just a spectator. Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold lost the ball to Florian Wirtz – and he made the game quick. In the end Frimpong crossed, Wirtz just missed in the penalty area, but Grimaldo was behind him. It was then Arnold who slightly deflected Grimaldo’s shot. Goalkeeper Pavan had no chance.
The victory for Leverkusen could have been higher. In the 76th minute, Frimpong looked for Boniface with a cross, but Wolfsburg’s Jenz got to the ball before him. His attempt to clear the ball went just wide of the goal. Seconds later, Frimpong appeared in front of the goal, but goalkeeper Pervan just steered the ball past the left post. And then Wirtz also finished, less than half a meter missing from his curling shot.
Wolfsburg’s wind fails twice
In the end, Leverkusen’s victory was a happy one. It was already the fourth minute of stoppage time when Wolfsburg’s striker Jonas Wind shot after a pass from Lovro Majer.
He hit the ball well, but Leverkusen goalkeeper Hradecky made a strong save. The rebound landed again in the wind, but Hradecky once again won the duel.
Wolves in Augsburg, Werkself welcome Freiburg
VfL Wolfsburg will face FC Augsburg away on matchday 9 (Saturday, October 28th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Bayer Leverkusen hosts SC Freiburg in the home game (Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.).