Bayer 04 Leverkusen defeated RB Leipzig with a convincing performance and underpinned their ambitions right from the start of the Bundesliga. Leverkusen won the duel between the Bayern challengers on Saturday (08/19/2023) 3-2.
Jeremie Frimpong gave Leverkusen the lead in the 24th minute after thoughtful preliminary work from newcomer Victor Boniface. Jonathan Tah (35′) scored the second goal with a header, and the guests from Leipzig, who had been pale until then, managed to catch up through Dani Olmo (39′) before the break.
After the break, Florian Wirtz restored the old distance over Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich after Frimpong’s assist with an arc lamp (64′). The Belgian striker Lois Openda brought Leipzig back after a free kick, but nothing changed in Leverkusen’s deserved victory.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was happy about a real “statements” of his team, but immediately warned against premature euphoria: “We’ll continue to watch from game to game. The three games before the international break are important. Then we’ll know if it’s a good start to the season.”
Leverkusen superior in the duel of Bayern challengers
Led by world champion Exequiel Palacios and Bundesliga returnee Granit Xhaka, Leverkusen gained a clear advantage from the start. The two won numerous duels, but they also shone with playful overview and class.
It was the Swiss Xhaka who started the opening goal strongly: he played the ball up from midfield to Boniface, who served right-back Frimpong in the centre. A little later, Tah raised with a head. Another newcomer, national player Jonas Hofmann from Mönchengladbach, served the defense chief with a well-placed corner.
Leipzig without structure and ideas
Leipzig was visibly impressed in front of the eyes of national coach Hansi Flick, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFB sporting director Rudi Völler, Marco Rose’s team continued to cross the halfway line with hardly any structure. It only became dangerous after a strong individual action by Openda, but Palacios straddled the cross of the Leipzig record signing. RB used the following corner kick to connect: Olmo, in the Supercup with a three-pack, hit his head.
RB had its keeper to thank for the fact that the third goal was not conceded right at the beginning of the second half: Blaswich made an outstanding save against Florian Wirtz (48th) and initially kept his team in the game.
Leipzig kept getting stuck in the attentive defense of the hosts and invited Leverkusen to counterattack. Boniface and Co. did not use the opportunities consistently, but Alonso’s team still seemed more dangerous in this phase.
roses triple change fizzled – Wirtz with the decision
RB coach Rose, who tried to shake his team awake with a triple change in the 62nd minute, also recognized this. Instead, Leverkusen struck: The strong Frimpong rushed down the right flank and served Wirtz, who was a bit lucky with his unsuccessful shot, the ball dipped under the crossbar – the preliminary decision for the Werkself.
After that, the Leverkusen fans stopped their loud support due to a medical emergency. The supporter, who suffered a laceration in a fall, was later taken to hospital to applause from fans.
Leipzig’s Openda even had a huge chance to equalize after the goal, but only hit the post in the 74th minute.
Leverkusen meets Gladbach, Leipzig meets Stuttgart
Leverkusen are challenged in Gladbach on Matchday 2 (Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.). Leipzig already plays VfB Stuttgart on Friday (25.08.2023, 8.30 p.m.).