Leverkusen recovers after Weghorst hit; 12th loss in a row for Union


Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 5:36 PM• Jonathan van Haaster

Bayer Leverkusen has done excellent business in the Bundesliga. Die Werkself won 2-3 at TSG Hoffenheim. Wout Weghorst equalized 2-2, but the heroic role of Alejandro Grimaldo, good for two goals, does not buy anything in return. At the same time, RB Leipzig surprisingly lost 2-0 at 1. FSV Mainz 05, while Union Berlin lost for the twelfth consecutive time in all competitions.

TSG Hoffenheim – Bayer Leverkusen 2-3
Nothing seemed to be wrong for Leverkusen at halftime, where Jeremie Frimpong was on the right of midfield as usual. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team took the lead in the ninth minute through Florian Wirtz. The technician was already responsible for a beautiful hit last week and he succeeded again on Saturday.

He simply got rid of his direct opponent on the sideline and passed to Victor Boniface. The Nigerian kept the overview and gave a perfect return to Wirtz, who scored from close range: 0-1. On the stroke of half time it also became 0-2. Jonas Hofmann surprised by placing his corner kick low towards the sixteen. Grimaldo was ready there, who scored wonderfully in the short corner: 0-2.

Yet the score would be level again in the first fifteen minutes after halftime. First of all, Lukás Hrádecký made a horrible mistake by simply handing in to Anton Stach, who saw his chance and pushed the ball over the Finnish goalie into the goal: 1-2. The tying goal was visibly good for Hoffenheim. Barely two minutes after Stach’s goal, Weghorst took full advantage of a rebound from close range after a teammate’s shot hit the post hard: 2-2.

After Weghorst missed the opportunity to make it 3-2, he headed over, and Leverkusen took the lead again at the other end. Once again Grimaldo was the celebrated man. With a subtle shot into the top corner he left Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann without a chance: 2-3. Hoffenheim obviously tried, but the 3-3 was no longer possible.

1. FSV Mainz 05 – RB Leipzig 2-0
Leipzig, with Xavi Simons in the starting line-up, came close to the opening goal after twenty minutes. However, Christoph Baumgartner saw his shot turned away by a defender just in time. Simons also showed up shortly afterwards, but his shot went just over the goal. Simons also found himself in scoring position just after halftime. The Dutch international’s shot was saved by Robin Zentner.

Shortly after Dominik Kohr missed an excellent opportunity for the home team, Mainz still took the lead. Jae-Sung Lee broke the spell by heading the ball while falling and with a bounce: 1-0. Leandro Barreiro’s goal moments later was disallowed for offside, but referee Bastian Dankert came to the conclusion that the flag signal from his assistant referee was unjustified: 2-0.

1. Union Berlin – Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3
Union Berlin found themselves trailing 0-2 after just fifteen minutes. Omar Marmoush was responsible for this, as the Egyptian scored both goals. First of all, he took full advantage of a falling ball by finding the short corner from the edge of sixteen: 0-1. In the fourteenth minute, Hugo Larsson was given too much time and space on the right side, allowing the Swede’s cross to be easily passed in by Marmoush: 0-2. Union, which took office without the injured Danilho Doekhi, was unable to do anything in the future. Ten minutes before the end, Nacho even scored the 0-3 on a pass from Mario Götze.

No. Team M W G V +/- Pnt
1 Bayer Leverkusen 10 9 1 0 20 28
2 Bayern Munich 9 7 2 0 27 23
3 VfB Stuttgart 9 7 0 2 16 21
4 Borussia Dortmund 9 6 3 0 9 21
5 RB Leipzig 10 6 2 2 16 20
6 TSG Hoffenheim 10 6 0 4 3 18
7 Eintracht Frankfurt 10 4 5 1 6 17
8 SC Freiburg 10 4 2 4 -6 14
9 VfL Wolfsburg 9 4 0 5 -1 12
10 FC Augsburg 10 3 3 4 -3 12
11 Borussia Monchengladbach 10 2 4 4 -4 10
12 Werder Bremen 9 3 0 6 -4 9
13 VfL Bochum 10 1 5 4 -14 8
14 Heidenheim 9 2 1 6 -9 7
15 Darmstadt 98 10 2 1 7 -18 7
16 1. FC union Berlin 10 2 0 8 -11 6
17 FSV Mainz 05 10 1 3 6 -13 6
18 1. FC Cologne 10 1 2 7 -14 5