To: October 5, 2024 5:54 p.m.
After eight minutes it looked like a clear victory, but Bayer Leverkusen again showed weaknesses in the lead. Holstein Kiel stole a point from the champions in a 2-2 draw on Saturday October 5, 2024 despite losing 2-0.
Victor Boniface (4th) and Jonas Hofmann (8th) gave the “Werkself” a comfortable lead from the start, but the promoted team countered sensationally through Max Geschwill (45th + 5th) and Jan-Fiete Arp (69th / penalty).
Early double strike from Boniface and Hofmann
Leverkusen could have been a model for Kiel. The previous week, the champions had snatched a 1-1 draw from FC Bayern Munich, who had previously been in much better form, in the top match with an extremely defensive and destructive style of play. But the newcomer did not use the plan at the start, Kiel relied on courageous football and a good start – and were quickly punished severely for it.
From the fourth minute, Leverkusen showed what they were capable of with their class against an opponent who offered them a lot of space. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team reacted quickly and eventually Exequiel Palacios passed to Boniface, who made it 1-0 from the start. Shortly after, Kiel gave the hosts a similar situation, but Timon Weiner managed to prevent Boniface’s double with a powerful save (6th).
However, the Kiel goalkeeper’s second action backfired. Palacios took advantage of his error in the preparation to replace Hofmann this time and bring the score to 2-0 for Bayer (8th). It was the Argentine’s first starting XI of the season after a long injury break and he rewarded it with two assists – all on his 26th birthday.
Kiel adapts – and even gets back to it
But then Kiel became a little more reserved about giving gifts. Boniface scores his second goal, but finds himself offside a few centimeters (26th). Leverkusen missed a few more half-chances, but the promoted side adjusted their style of play to ensure the afternoon did not turn into a bitter affair. And since Alonso’s team did not score the third goal with all their might, Kiel was spared, 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 builds a wall and has hope
Leverkusen had already struggled on several occasions during the young season despite having a two-goal lead. Alonso’s team also led 2-0 in the defeat against RB Leipzig (2:3) – and now the promoted team could also sniff their return to the champions. Leverkusen got back into rhythm after the break, but Kiel were very deep and were able to defend against attacks.
Bayer kept the ball all the 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 counter-attack and steal a point from Leverkusen – and that opportunity presented itself in the 67th minute. Benedikt Pichler rushed towards the Bayer goal, but Edmond Tapsoba managed to block at the last moment.
Arp surprises Leverkusen
And then there was a very big opportunity for Kiel. After a foul by Jérémie Frimpong, it’s a penalty for the outsider – and Arp effectively converts it to equalize (69th). Incredible, but once again, Leverkusen jeopardized a victory that it thought was certain. For the third time, the “Werkself” conceded a 2-2 draw after a 2-0 lead – could they fight back 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 (73rd). Leverkusen’s attacks then became much more vehement, but their efforts also seemed cramped. So much so that the fluke so common in stoppage time did not materialize – it remained 2-2 and both points lost from Bayer’s point of view.
FC Bayern can already take a five-point lead on Sunday (at Eintracht Frankfurt) and Leverkusen has fallen out of the top four in the Bundesliga for the first time in a long time. Meanwhile, Kiel are still aiming for their first win in the German upper house, but the BayArena experience was a feeling of accomplishment not thought possible and should give plenty of encouragement for the future.
Leverkusen vs. Frankfurt, Kiel vs. Union
After the international break, Bayer Leverkusen continues against Eintracht Frankfurt (October 19, 3:30 p.m.). Holstein Kiel fights against Union Berlin for the (first) 3 points (October 20, 3:30 p.m.).
