As of: October 5th, 2024 5:54 p.m
After eight minutes it looked like a clear victory, but then Bayer Leverkusen showed weaknesses in the lead again. Holstein Kiel stole a point from the champions in a 2-2 draw on Saturday (October 5th, 2024) despite being 2-0 down.
Victor Boniface (4th) and Jonas Hofmann (8th) gave the “Werkself” a comfortable lead early on, but the promoted team hit back sensationally through Max Geschwill (45th + 5th) and Jan-Fiete Arp (69th / penalty kick).
Early double strike by Boniface and Hofmann
Leverkusen could have been the model for Kiel. The previous week, the champions had wrested a 1-1 draw from FC Bayern Munich, who had previously been in much better form, in the top game with an extremely defensive and destructive style of play. But the newcomer didn’t use the blueprint at the beginning, Kiel relied on courageous football and a high start – and was quickly punished bitterly for it.
As early as the fourth minute, Leverkusen showed what they can do with their class against an opponent who offers them a lot of space. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team countered quickly, and in the end Exequiel Palacios passed through to Boniface, who made it 1-0 early on. Shortly afterwards, Kiel gave the hosts a similar situation, but Timon Weiner was able to prevent Boniface’s double with a strong save (6th).
However, the Kiel keeper’s second action backfired. Palacios took advantage of his mistake in the build-up, this time replacing Hofmann and making it 2-0 for Bayer (8th). It was the Argentine’s first starting eleven of the season after a long injury break and he rewarded it with two quick assists – all on his 26th birthday.
Kiel adapts – and even gets back to it
But Kiel then became a little more reserved about giving out gifts. Boniface scored his second goal, but was a few centimeters offside (26′). Leverkusen missed a few more half-chances, but the promoted team adjusted their style of play so that the afternoon would not turn into a bitter affair. And because Alonso’s team didn’t go for the third goal with all their might, Kiel was spared that, at least in the first half.
But that’s not all. Marcel Rapp’s team even punished the Werkself’s passivity shortly before the half-time whistle. After a corner, Geschwill scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time for the only Bundesliga club from Schleswig-Holstein to date.
Kiel is building a bulwark and has hope
Leverkusen had already been in trouble several times in the young season despite a two-goal lead. Alonso’s team was also in the lead 2-0 in the defeat against RB Leipzig (2:3) – and now the promoted team was also getting a sniff on the comeback with the champions. Leverkusen picked up the pace again after the break, but Kiel was very deep and was able to defend itself against the attacks.
Bayer had the ball the whole time and let it circulate around the Kiel penalty area, but there were almost no chances. The visitors were waiting for their chance to strike with a counterattack and steal a point from Leverkusen – and this opportunity arose in the 67th minute. Benedikt Pichler stormed towards the Bayer goal, but Edmond Tapsoba was able to block at the last moment.
Arp shocks Leverkusen
And then there was a really big opportunity for Kiel. After a foul by Jeremie Frimpong, there was a penalty for the outsider – and Arp actually converted it to equalize (69′). Unbelievable, but once again Leverkusen put a victory they thought was certain at risk. For the third time, the “Werkself” conceded a 2-2 draw after a 2-0 lead – could they hit back again like they did in the season opener against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-2)?
First, Lukas Hradecky even had to prevent the score from making it 2-3 when Pichler got a free header from close range (73′). Leverkusen’s attacks then became much more vehement, but their efforts also seemed cramped. So much so that the otherwise so frequent lucky punch in stoppage time failed to materialize – it remained 2-2 and the two points that were wasted from Bayer’s perspective.
FC Bayern can already move ahead by five points on Sunday (at Eintracht Frankfurt), and Leverkusen slipped out of the top four in the Bundesliga for the first time in a long time. Meanwhile, Kiel is still aiming for its first victory in the German upper house, but the experience in the BayArena was a sense of achievement that was not thought possible and should give a lot of encouragement for the future.
Leverkusen against Frankfurt, Kiel against Union
After the international break, Bayer Leverkusen continues against Eintracht Frankfurt (October 19th, 3:30 p.m.). Holstein Kiel fights against Union Berlin for (the first) 3 points (October 20th, 3:30 p.m.).
