Bayer Leverkusen: Fairytale continues for Bundesliga leaders after sealing a dramatic win over Leipzig
Bayer Leverkusen has extended their dream run after a magical performance against RB Leipzig, which showcased an emotional rollercoaster, extending from sadness to rejuvenated happiness for both sides. A stoppage time winner by Hincapie was enough to seal the deal for Xabi Alonso’ men, extending their unbeaten run in Europe’s top five leagues.
Bayer Leverkusen defeats RB Leipzig
Bundesliga has always been a two-throng race among serial winners Bayern Munich and their close counterparts, Borussia Dortmund, members of the Klassiker. But, with the rise of strongly competitive sides like RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern would be under threat as their throne of consecutive 13 Bundesliga titles is at risk of being taken away from them. Bayer Leverkusen, coached by the legendary former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid stalwart Xabi Alonso, have strongly presented their case as becoming the frontrunners of leading this season’s title race. “Die Schwarzroten” has exceeded their expectations this season, as they are currently well positioned to break Bayern’s title dominance, as they have mustered 48 points from 18 games, leading by seven points from second placed Bayern, who have two games to reduce the deficit. Last night, Leverkusen has once again proved the fact that they are indeed present to assert their authority over German football, after a comeback victory against arch rivals RB Leipzig, after going down to 1-2 till an hour mark.
A high octane clash
Leipzig and Leverkusen always lived up to the promise of thousands of swarming fans who were present at Red Bull Arena last night, which was not an exception either. Both teams looked for opening goal since the first whistle, as a goal would break the deadlock. It was Xavi Simons, the former FC Barcelona youngster who fired in a bullet to give the home side the anticipated lead within seven minutes. With a half-time score of 1-0 in favor of the hosts, it was expected that the second half would blast open, with Alonso’s men eager to maintain their unbeaten streak.
After the restart, it was Nathan Tella who responded well to the pressure, reclaiming parity within two minutes of second half resumption. But, Leipzig was quick on their feet to grab the lead once again through Openda, who had ripped apart the Leverkusen defense with his penetrative run-ins, thus having a score line of 2-1 with more than half-hour to play.
The topsy-turvy contest did not seem to have an imminent ending, as Jonathan Tah found a way to restore the parity, thus making the game wide open, as he headed a monstrous goal from the corner, silencing the home crowd which has been supporting Leipzig since the start.
Although the match looked that it would end in a furiously contested stalemate, Piero Hincapie had other things in mind. The Ecuadorian star, who has dazzled this season with his astounding winners in stoppage times, has once again rose to the occasion, when he fired home the third goal of Bayer from a poorly defended corner, thus giving his side a huge seven-point lead at the top of the table, with second placed Bayern geared up to contest Werder Bremen at their home turf, aiming for a slight deficit at the table.
