Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga came to a dramatic end on August 31, 2024, with a stunning 3-2 home loss to RB Leipzig. The defeat not only snapped Leverkusen’s impressive run in the league but also marked their first loss in any German competition in 463 days.The match began promisingly for the reigning German champions, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo putting Leverkusen ahead 2-0 by the 45th minute. However, Kevin Kampl’s goal for Leipzig just before halftime shifted the momentum. In the second half, Lois Openda emerged as the hero for Leipzig, scoring twice to complete a remarkable comeback.The game was not without controversy. Leipzig’s coach Marco Rose was sent off in the 26th minute for protesting to the referee. There was also a concerning moment when Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara was hit in the face by a shot from Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, leading to a brief loss of consciousness.Despite the loss, Leverkusen dominated the match statistically, with 26 shots to Leipzig’s 8, 18 corner kicks to 2, and 63% ball possession. Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah acknowledged the team’s lapses, stating, ‘We dozed off in some situations today, we were asleep, and that gets punished against an opponent like that’.The defeat leaves Leverkusen reflecting on their performance, with coach Xabi Alonso commenting, ‘It’s very, very painful… We didn’t have as much control in the second half, then it was too easy for Leipzig’. The team now has two weeks to regroup before facing Hoffenheim in their next Bundesliga match.This result puts RB Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga table with six points from two matches, while Leverkusen faces the challenge of bouncing back from their first league defeat since May 2023.
Key points
- Bayer Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga ended with a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig.
- Leverkusen led 2-0 but conceded three goals in the second half, with Lois Openda scoring twice for Leipzig.
- The loss marks Leverkusen’s first defeat in any German competition in 463 days.
- RB Leipzig now leads the Bundesliga table with six points from two matches.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported length of Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak, with some sources citing 35 games and others mentioning 43 games across all competitions.
