PLAYER RATINGS | Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 RB Leipzig

Within the first massive marquee recreation of the Bundesliga season, RB Leipzig ended Bayer Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten league run as they got here from 2-0 all the way down to beat the defending champions 3-2.

Leverkusen have been the dominant facet within the first half however struggled to make issues click on proper till Leipzig head coach Marco Rose was despatched off for protesting a problem from Jonathan Tah on Loïs Openda. Then Leverkusen began to get into their stream and opened the scoring when Jeremie Frimpong was performed by way of, forcing Bitshiabu to utterly miss his slide sort out earlier than slotting previous Peter Gulacsi.

Simply earlier than halftime, Leverkusen would then double their lead when the ball was performed throughout the face of the aim by Florian Wirtz and transformed by Alejandro Grimaldo. Nonetheless, in opposition to the run of play, Leipzig would get one again when former Leverkusen gamers Benjamin Henrichs and Kevin Kampl mixed to arrange an attention-grabbing second half.

At half-time, Leipzig clearly had a number of Purple Bulls as within the second half they began much more energetic and equalised within the 58th minute when Loïs Openda was performed by way of by Benjamin Seško.

The sport then opened up extra however Leverkusen remained dominant however Gulacsi held agency making a number of good saves to maintain Die Werkself out, within the eightieth minute Openda would then obtain a go from Antonio Nusa and with a long-range effort beat Matej Kovar to offer Leipzig the lead. Leverkusen would proceed to pressure saves from Gulacsi however Leipzig was capable of climate the storm and finish Leverkusen’s unbeaten run.

On the finish of the day, Leverkusen will really feel like they deserved extra from the sport as they have been on high for almost all of it however, like last weekend against Borussia Mönchengladbach, complacency could have set in and so they allowed Leipzig to get again into the sport. On the optimistic facet, Leverkusen will not have the file of remaining unbeaten looming over them.

When the Bundesliga returns after the worldwide break, Leverkusen will face Hoffenheim whereas Leipzig will host Union Berlin.

Bayer Leverkusen XI: 

Matej Kovar (5), Edmond Tapsoba (5), Jonathan Tah (5), Piero Hincapié (5), Jeremie Frimpong (7), Aleix García (5), Granit Xhaka (6), Alejandro Grimaldo (6), Martin Terrier (5), Florian Wirtz (6), Victor Boniface (5)

Others: Amine Adli (5), Nathan Tella (5), Patrik Schick (5), Arthur (-)

RB Leipzig XI: 

Peter Gulacsi (7), Benjamin Henrichs (6), Lukas Klostermann (4), Castello Lukeba (6), El Chadaille Bitshiabu (5), David Raum (5), Amadou Haidara (-), Kevin Kampl (6), Xavi Simons (5), Loïs Openda (8), Benjamin Seško (6)

Others: Nicolas Seiwald (5), Antonio Nusa (6), Yussuf Poulsen (-), Christoph Baumgartner (-), Arthur Vermeeren (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Loïs Openda (8)

The Belgian supplied the power and drive that Leipzig lacked within the first half and wanted after the break to come back from behind and beat Leverkusen. The 24-year-old prompted loads of points together with his runs in behind for the Leverkusen again line and has now kickstarted his season with a brace. If Leipzig are to realize something this season Openda can be key to all of it.

A particular point out additionally goes to Gulacsi who made a number of key saves to maintain Leverkusen out proper on the finish of the sport.

GGFN | Jack Meenan