Leverkusen in top spot
Bayer Leverkusen climbed to the top of the Bundesliga for the first time in six years after they beat Hoffenheim 4-1.
Meet your new league leaders 🦁🔝#BLMatchday pic.twitter.com/PwjjyyV9DF
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 13, 2020
The match
Leon Bailey opened the scoring in the fourth minute, curling in an unstoppable shot from outside the box.
The Jamaican then bagged his second just before the half-hour mark, intercepting a misjudged back pass from Andrej Kramaric to round the stranded Oliver Baumann and pass into the empty net from distance. It was Bailey’s fourth goal of the season.
Leon Bailey scored himself a couple of beauts on Sunday 👌@bayer04_en @leonbailey pic.twitter.com/HgjqjVZd3e
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 15, 2020
Hoffenheim got one back through a brilliant solo goal by Christoph Baumgartner. He charged past the Leverkusen midfield and curled a shot into the top corner.
17-year-old Florian Wirtz restored Leverkusen’s two goal lead five minutes later, stylishly waltzing past a couple of defenders in the box after a flick by Patrik Schick and dinking the ball past the goalkeeper. It was Wirtz’s first goal of the season.
Hoffenheim were then reduced to 10 men as Florian Grillitsch was sent off for two yellow cards.
Lucas Alario completed the rout in stoppage-time from the penalty spot to make it seven wins from eight for Peter Bosz’s unbeaten side. Alario has scored eight goals in eight games so far this season
What it means
Leverkusen go top of the Bundesliga for the first time since September 2014.
Leverkusen’s final games of the year:
⚔️ Köln (away)
⚔️ Bayern (home)Mission Keep Top Spot is on 🦁 pic.twitter.com/bcAzB7adT2
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 13, 2020
Hoffenheim drop to 12th after losing their first game in four matches
Schalke denied win in stoppage time
Schalke were just a couple of minutes away from ending their long winless run, but they conceded in stoppage-time to draw 2-2 with Augsburg.
Marco Richter scored late for Augsburg, meaning Schalke are now 27 Bundesliga games without a win.
⏱️ 90+3′
Marco Richter’s first goal this season denies Schalke their first league win since January 📸#FCAS04 2-2 pic.twitter.com/dphwkmGwNp
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) December 13, 2020
The match
Schalke fell behind to an own goal by Suat Serdar in the 32nd minute – their third own goal of the season.
However, the visitors fought back and equalised through Benito Raman. He seized upon a mistake and finished past Rafal Gikiewicz after going through on goal.
Florian Niderlechner was then sent off for Augsburg for two yellows, giving Schalke a huge opportunity.
They went ahead when Nassim Boujellab fired in a shot from close range to score his first ever Bundesliga goal. It was only the second time Schalke had gone ahead this season.
Manuel Baum’s side thought they had ended their long winless drought, but Richter headed in from fellow substitute Michael Gregoritsch’s cross to deny Schalke of a crucial three points.
What it means
Schalke stay bottom and have four points from 11 games. They are six points behind FC Köln in 15th, who beat Mainz 1-0.
Augsburg are 10th with 13 points from 11 games. They are winless in their last five Bundesliga games.
Other results
RB Leipzig maintained their 100% home record as they beat Werder Bremen 2-0. Julian Nagelsmann’s side have taken 18 points from their six home games this season. They sit third in the table, one point off the top.
Borussia Mönchengladbach dropped down to eighth after they drew 1-1 with Hertha Berlin.
Featured image: Leon Bailey of Leverkusen celebrates scoring the 2:0 against goalkeeper Oliver Baumann of Hoffenheim during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim at BayArena.(Photo by Mika Volkmann/Getty Images)
