Status: 12.12.2021 7:25 p.m.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen seemed to be on the winning road early on matchday 15 of the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt. At the end of a spectacular game, Eintracht went away as the winner.
Frankfurt made up a two-goal deficit in the first half and ultimately won 5: 2 (2: 2). Patrik Schick (5th, 22nd) put Leverkusen in the front with a brace. Tuta (23rd) and Jesper Lindstrøm equalized. Evan Ndicka (50th), Kristian Jakic (63rd) and Djibril Sow (76th) shot Eintracht to victory.
The Eintracht confirmed their rising form curve and has now won four of the last five Bundesliga games. Leverkusen had to accept a damper after the 7-1 gala against Fürth last match day, but remain third in the table. For the Werkself it was the first defeat after three Bundesliga victories in a row.
Fast, intense game
Both teams were still in action in the Europa League last Thursday and entered the round of 16 as group winners. However, there was no sign of tiredness on either side. Instead, a fast-paced, intense game developed.
After just five minutes, the Leverkusen-based team had broken the Frankfurt defensive for the first time. Moussa Diaby played a one-two with Florian Wirtz on the right. The ball landed via Robert Andrich at Schick, who hit from the turn to the Leverkusen lead – his 13th goal of the season.
Schick hits from the point, Eintracht compensates
The early goal naturally played into the cards for the strong Werkself. There were always rooms, especially on the right-hand side. However, the second hit was preceded by a standard. After a free kick, Frankfurt’s Djibril Sow jumped the ball in the penalty area to the outstretched arm. Referee Marco Fritz pointed to the point according to the video images. Schick stepped up and scored safely in the middle (22nd).
However, Eintracht did not submit to their fate and struck back a minute later. After a corner, the ball landed at the feet of Tuta, who gave ex-Frankfurt Lukas Hradecky no chance in the Bayer goal from close range (23). And just seven minutes later, the Leverkusen leadership was completely obsolete. Sow played a perfect pass from midfield into Lindstrøm’s run, who hit from the corner of the penalty area into the far corner – 2-2 (30th).
Ndicka puts Frankfurt in the lead
After equalizing, Eintracht were the better team and turned the game around completely five minutes after the restart. Again a corner went ahead. After a header duel in the penalty area, Ndicka kept track of things and hit the left into the right corner (50) in no time. Three minutes later it would have been almost 4: 2, but Hradecky saved in dire need against Rafael Borré (53.).
The goal came ten minutes later. After a counterattack in Frankfurt, a clarification campaign by Piero Hincapié fell short. Jakic rushed up and sank the ball into the far corner with a direct pickup from the right (63.).
Sow hits the corner
Leverkusen admitted defeat and had to swallow the fifth goal in the 76th minute. Sow sank a long-range shot in a corner that was worth seeing. The 5: 2 was also the final score.
The break is a short one for both teams. Eintracht Frankfurt is required on Wednesday (15.12.2021) away from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen meets TSG Hoffenheim at the same time.
Source: sportschau.de