Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months.
Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning.
Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back.
Photo: Reuters
However, while Leverkusen rallied late to win both of those matches, they had no answer for a rampant Lois Openda, who scored twice in the second half to turn the match.
Known for late goals — Leverkusen have scored 17 times in the 88th minute or later this year — Alonso’s men were unable to salvage their record.
Having qualified for Europe last season, Hoffenheim are an unknown quantity this year. They beat promoted Holstein Kiel in their opener, but were outclassed by fellow UEFA Europa League side Eintracht Frankfurt the week after.
While the statement win over Leverkusen broke a stunning streak, Leipzig have quietly been putting together a run of their own.
Leipzig’s last loss — a 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich thanks to a stoppage-time Harry Kane goal — came in February, a 15-game unbeaten run.
They host Union Berlin today, but will be without manager Marco Rose, who saw yellow twice in the win over Leverkusen.
Along with Leipzig, Bayern and unlikely league leaders Heidenheim are the only three clubs to have won two from two to start the season. Bayern travel to Holstein Kiel today in just the second meeting between the two clubs. The first took place in the DFB-Pokal in 2021, when Kiel knocked Bayern out on penalties in the second round.
The exit kick-started a run of poor performances in the DFB-Pokal; 20-time winners Bayern have not made it past the quarter-finals for the past four years.
Despite leading the league, Heidenheim were to travel to Borussia Dortmund yesterday knowing that the pressure was well and truly on their opponents. Dortmund’s limp scoreless draw at Werder Bremen has again put the spotlight on a side who, despite making the UEFA Champions League final last campaign, stumbled to fifth place in the league.
Heideheim coach Frank Schmidt on Thursday backed his side to “make the impossible possible” against their heavily favored opponents.
However, Dortmund can count on the debut of striker Serhou Guirassy, who has returned from a knee injury.
Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin on Thursday said that Guirassy, who joined from Stuttgart in the summer, had made an “excellent impression” this week.
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