Bayer 04 delivers goal festival
The master is warming up to Rome
May 5, 2024, 7:25 p.m
Bayer Leverkusen isn’t letting up in the Bundesliga after winning the title early on: The German champions are extending their massive invincible streak in Frankfurt – and this time they don’t have to work hard until the final minutes. And is warming up for the Europa League duel against AS Roma.
The German soccer champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen continued their super series even without their suspended coach Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen, who are still unbeaten this season, won 5-1 (2-1) away at Eintracht Frankfurt on the 32nd Bundesliga matchday. The factory club gained additional momentum for the semi-final second leg of the Europa League next Thursday in Leverkusen against AS Roma (first leg 2-0). (Live on RTL and RTL+ and in the live ticker on ntv.de).
Granit Xhaka (12th minute), Patrik Schick (44th), Exequiel Palacios from the penalty spot (58th) and substitutes Jeremie Frimpong (78th) and Victor Boniface (89th/penalty) scored for Bayer. Striker Hugo Ekitiké scored the interim equalizer for Eintracht in front of 58,000 spectators (32nd).
Suspended Alonso was able to relax
While the Leverkusen team can continue to pursue their mission of invincibility this season, the Frankfurt team have to worry about sixth place in the table in the final spurt of the season. With a win, the Hessians would have certainly had it – and thus at least qualification for the Europa League.
Leverkusen’s successful coach Alonso watched the game coolly and calmly from the main stand with white earplugs. Being in the stands obviously didn’t bother him or the team. “I can communicate with the bench. We have a different view from the stands,” said the Spaniard on the streaming service DAZN before kick-off. His team continues to head for a dream season with three titles and not a single game lost.
“It will be a big task, but we also want to approach it with a certain amount of energy and pose problems for the opponent,” said Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller before the game. Eintracht started boldly and offensively, but the Hessians didn’t initially create any real chances to score.
In the end it becomes clear
Instead, the Werkself made it 1-0 with their first chance thanks to a precise long-range shot from Xhaka. Leverkusen stayed on the trigger and wanted to make it 2-0. However, that didn’t work.
Out of nowhere, Frankfurt equalized through Ekitiké. The winter newcomer is getting better and better at Eintracht and scored in the third game in a row. The home team now played with more confidence again and should have made it 2-1. After a fine pass from Ekitiké, Omar Marmoush shot the ball over the goal in front of Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky (42nd). Bayer punished this with a header from Schick before the break.
At the start of the second half, both teams met on equal terms. After Frankfurt’s Niels Nkounkou unnecessarily pulled Nathan Tella’s jersey in the penalty area (56th), referee Christian Dingert consequently decided on a penalty for the guests. Palacios converted safely. Bayer then switched to management mode and let the Toppmöller team come. Frimpong completed a perfectly executed counterattack to make it 4-1. After a foul by Knauff on Frimpong and the use of VAR, Boniface made the final score from the spot.