The Bundesliga served up its usual dose of drama this past Saturday. For teams like Benfica, eyeing their Champions League opponents, the early struggles of Bayer Leverkusen are certainly worth noting. Leverkusen, a club that lifted the German title just two seasons ago, remains without a single victory. Their latest outing saw them squander a lead late, drawing 3-3 at home against Werder Bremen. This nail-biting finish meant both clubs earned their first point of the season.
Leverkusen jumped out to a strong start, with Patrik Schick finding the net after just five minutes. American midfielder Malik Tillman doubled their lead in the 35th minute, making it 2-0. However, Werder Bremen fought back. Austrian Romano Schmid converted a penalty in the 44th minute, cutting the deficit. The match grew even more chaotic when Werder Bremen went down to ten men in the 63rd minute. Just a minute later, Schick scored his second goal from the penalty spot, restoring Leverkusen’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
But the home side couldn’t hold on. Swiss player Isaac Schmidt pulled one back for Werder Bremen in the 76th minute. Then, in the dying moments of the game, at 90’+4, Karim Coulibaly delivered the equalizer. This late goal secured a surprising point for Bremen and left Leverkusen still searching for their first win of the new campaign. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team with high hopes.
Frankfurt’s Flying Start
While Leverkusen struggles, Eintracht Frankfurt is enjoying a fantastic beginning to their season. They kept their perfect record intact by beating Hoffenheim 3-1 away from home. Japanese midfielder Ritsu Doan was the star of the show. He scored twice in the first half, hitting the net in the 17th and 27th minutes. Doan then turned provider, assisting Can Yilmaz Uzun for Frankfurt’s third goal in the 51st minute. Grischa Promel managed a consolation goal for Hoffenheim in the 90’+1 minute.
Frankfurt is currently the only team in the league to collect all six possible points, sitting at the top of the table. Hoffenheim, on the other hand, suffered their first loss. This defeat came after they had opened their season with a victory over Leverkusen. It shows just how quickly fortunes can change in football.
Other Bundesliga Action
Elsewhere, Leipzig finally got their season going. They secured their first points by beating bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim 2-0 at home. Austrian Christoph Baumgartner scored in the 48th minute, followed by a goal from Brazilian Rômulo Cardoso in the 78th minute. This win lifts Leipzig up the standings.
Stuttgart also celebrated their first victory of the season. After drawing their first-round match, they beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 at home. Spanish player Chema Andrés scored the winning goal in the 79th minute, giving Stuttgart a crucial three points. The early weeks of the Bundesliga are certainly proving to be anything but predictable.