7th away win on matchday 24
© Imago
With a convincing performance against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen set a exclamation mark in front of the sparkling Champions League duel with FC Bayern Munich. The master won the top game on the 24th matchday of the Bundesliga at Eintracht 4: 1 (3: 1).
Bayer thus stays in the table with eight points behind the Munich team and got confidence for the round of 16 first leg against FC Bayern on Wednesday. Eintracht continues to take third place, but has to worry more than ever for the qualification for the premier class, because the competition is getting closer. The defeat also does not give a tailwind for the Europa League duel at Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday.
The Leverkusen laid the foundation stone for victory with a triple strike by Nathan Tella (26th minute), Nordi Mukiele (29th) and Patrik Schick (33rd) in less than ten minutes. For the Eintracht, attacker Hugo Ekitiké (37th) met before Bayers Aleix García marked the final score after the break (62nd).
In a fast -paced game, the guests from Leverkusen initially took control and also had the first noteworthy chance in front of 58,000 fans. A shot from Alejandro Grimaldo falsified Schick dangerously, but the ball turned past the post (5th).
After the bitter 0: 4 the previous week at Bayern, Eintracht first focused on being stable in defense. In the early stages, the Frankfurters did not come to a chance in the initial phase, except for an impeccious attempt by Ekitiké (11th).
Then it got hot when Bayer’s midfield strategist Granit Xhaka had refused handshake after a duel with Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri. After a short -term pack formation, the minds calmed down again.
“The best preparation for Bayern Munich is a good game against Eintracht Frankfurt,” said Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso before the Bundesliga game with a view to the German Champions League duel. His team took the words to heart, especially from the middle of the first half.
First Tella met after a fine pass from Xhaka. Then the Eintracht was not cleared the ball on a corner, so that Mukiele increased out of the bustle. Schick made the triple strike perfectly overwhelmed in this phase.
Despite the clear deficit, the Frankfurters did not gave themselves up and benefited from a capital mistake from the scorer Mukiele. The 27-year-old played a much too inaccurate back pass on keeper Lukas Hradecky. Ekitiké grabbed the ball and pushed in in his 50th competitive game for Eintracht to 1: 3.
From Ekitiké’s storm partner and winter access Elye Wahi was little to see at his starting eleven premiere for the SGE in the first half. That changed after the break when Wahi skilfully removed with his chest for Ekitiké. The Frenchman’s shot slammed to the post.
The Frankfurter tried to make the connection goal, but Bayer scored the next goal through Garcia, who made the preliminary decision. The next setback suffered Eintracht in the 71st minute, as defense chief Robin Koch had to be replaced after a headball duel during his comeback after a shoulder injury. After that, not much happened, Leverkusen brought the clear lead over time.