Thanks to the 5-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim, Bayer Leverkusen managed to win again in the Bundesliga after three draws in a row. The Werkself made up a 2-0 deficit.
Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso made two changes before the international break after the 1-1 draw in Bochum: Palacios and Aleix Garcia started instead of Andrich (bench) and Hofmann (left thigh injury).
The Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt also changed to two positions compared to the 1:3 defeat against Wolfsburg. Instead of Scienza and Wanner, who was ailing until the end (both bench), Maloney and Beck started.
Bundesliga – 11th matchday
Dorsch and Honsak shock Bayer
As expected, the Werkself started the game offensively. Xhaka narrowly missed from the edge of the penalty area (4th). On the other side, Heidenheim took the lead with the first clear chance: after a throw-in from the Werkself, Pieringer won the ball from Hincapie and put Dorsch in the center to make it 1-0 (10th).
And things got even better for the people of Ostalbstadt. In the 21st minute, Honsak all too easily beat Tah and Xhaka on the edge of the penalty area and shot accurately into the right corner of the goal (21'). However, bad luck for the guests afterwards: Pieringer landed unluckily on the grass without any opposition and injured his ankle. Wanner came into the game early on for him (28th).
Double chic turns the game around
Shortly afterwards, Leverkusen scored the next goal. Frimpong and Two minutes later the ball was in the FCH net again. This time Palacios initially cleverly served Schick, who executed an exemplary lob into the goal (32'). Bayer were now clearly superior, but also had to make a substitution shortly before the break. Frimpong, who was injured in a collision with Müller early in the game, was replaced by Tella (45th + 3).
Leverkusen finally turned the game around in the early stages of the second half. Wirtz prepared from the right and Schick scored his second goal of the afternoon with a skillful direct pass (52nd). The Alonso team continued to clearly dominate the game, and after the break there was nothing more offensive from Heidenheim – until the 69th minute: Substitute Conteh, still heavily pressed by Hincapie, only narrowly missed from a good position.
Send Xhaka to the third with a flick
Instead of equalizing, Bayer made everything clear on the other side shortly afterwards. Arthur, who had recently arrived, prepared with great feeling for Schick, who completed his hat-trick from close range with a header (71'). The game was therefore decided. Bayer then continued to let the ball run through their own ranks and scored another impressive goal thanks to Xhaka, who was all too free, to make the final score 5-2 (82').
During the week, Leverkusen will continue on Tuesday in the Champions League at home against RB Salzburg (9 p.m.), then next Saturday in the league at Union Berlin (3:30 p.m.). The highlight game in the Conference League against Chelsea (6.45 p.m.) awaits Heidenheim on Thursday, before Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Eintracht Frankfurt in the league on Sunday (5.30 p.m.).
