Highlights
F. Zwayer
0:23
WATCH: SILVA: "WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN OUR GOALS AND DREAMS"
0:14
WATCH: BAILEY: "IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SCORE GOALS"
Full-time
90'
+ 1
DEMIRBAY CALLS GAME!
Just as Frankfurt had hope of a late leveller, Demirbay seals the win for the home side. It's another assist for Diaby as he lays the ball off for the midfielder to strike at goal. His shot hits Tuta and sends Trapp the wrong way, with the ball nestling in the bottom corner.
90'
+ 1
LATE CHANCE FOR FRANKFURT?
Silva scores his 25th goal of the campaign after Zuber dinks the ball into the middle and Silva rises highest to head the ball back across and into the back of the net. A few minutes of added time to go...
90'
AMIRI FORCES A SAVE!
The substitute pings a shot at goal from 25 yards and forces Trapp into action once again, with the Frankfurt 'keeper pushing the ball wide of goal with a one-handed save to his right.
87'
N'DICKA BOOKED
The Frankfurt defender is cautioned for a late foul on Tah. He's now suspended with that being his 10th card of the season.
85'
DOUBLE CHANGE
The two stars of Leverkusen's performance here come off as Bailey and Wirtz are replaced by Wendell and Amiri.
85'
Substitution
85'
Substitution
83'
NEXT CHANGES
Hütter's final two substitutions see Zuber and Tuta come on for Kamada and Ilsanker here.
83'
Substitution
83'
Substitution
80'
ALARIO ON THE MONEY!
It's a second for Leverkusen and once again, Leon Bailey is involved. The home side break forward through the middle with Alario sliding the ball out left to Bailey. He dribbles into the area and spots Alario's run forward, playing him the ball which Alario duly lobs over Trapp with a classy finish to all but seal the three points for the hosts.
78'
WIRTZ ON FIRE
The 17-year-old has been fantastic today and turns around the Frankfurt area before giving Alario the ball to surely score, but he miscues his shot and the chances goes to waste.
77'
FOUR CHANGES!
Three for Frankfurt, one for Leverkusen as Jovic, Chandler and Younes all come on for the away side. Alario is on for Schick to bring fresh legs to the Leverkusen attack.
77'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
Substitution
76'
PALACIOS BOOKED
A late foul in midfield from Palacios on Kamada.
76'
Substitution
74'
JOVIC GETTING READY
Frankfurt need an answer in the final 15 minutes and Luka Jovic is getting ready, with two other substitutions coming, too...
73'
HOW BIG COULD THAT GOAL BE?
Leverkusen, as things stand, are just five points behind Dortmund (5th), who themselves are just one point behind Frankfurt (4th) with Wolfsburg only a single point ahead in third.
70'
BAILEY TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS!
We had to wait 70 minutes for the goal, but it comes from a common source as Bailey puts Leverkusen in front. It's Diaby who is in space on the right, and he sends a long ball towards the back post which Bailey runs to meet. He reaches it just in front of Trapp and shows composure and class to simply push the ball back across goal under the leaping goalkeeper, who was expecting a cross.
66'
OUR HOPE FOR A GOAL
In the previous 71 meetings between these two sides, there has always been at least one goal. Surely we won't see a goalless draw now.
61'
FIRST CHANGE
A switch-up in attack as Diaby comes on for Bellarabi on the right wing for Leverkusen.
61'
Substitution
58'
LUCKY ESCAPE FOR BAYER!
A corner swings into the middle and Hradecky's punch sends the ball up into the air. He loses it above him and it drops into the middle, eventually coming towards Silva and Hinteregger who volley it together towards goal. Luckily for Leverkusen, it bounces off Tah and wide of goal from close range.
58'
KOSTIC HITS ONE!
Kostic's first touch is poor and sends him wide of goal in the Leverkusen area, but his strike that follows is a rocket and forces Hradecky into a big save at his near post.
ALL TO PLAY FOR HERE
© Pool/Getty Images
54'
HUGE CHANCE FOR BELLARABI!
Leverkusen break forward down the left once again with Bailey, who cuts the ball back into the middle. The ball runs to the back post and Bellarabi is on the end of it to strike at goal. It's a poor shot on his left, though, which goes wide at the near post. Leverkusen letting a few too many chances goes to waste here.
52'
BAILEY NOT FAR AWAY!
Quick feet and dribbling from Bailey sends the Jamaican past Ilsanker who dives in to block his run at goal. He then shoots for the near post from just inside the Frankfurt area, but fires high over the crossbar.
51'
PALACIOS DOING HIS JOB
Duels won
13
9
Exequiel Palacios Erik Durm
47'
KAMADA SO CLOSE!
Frankfurt break down the right with Silva, who looks for the middle with a low cross and Kamada looks to get on the end of it, but Palacios just gets a toe ahead of him to push the ball wide past the goal from just a couple of yards out.
46'
BACK UNDERWAY!
The second half is underway without a change at the break from either side.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
CHANCES!
Bailey has a shot blocked by Durm in his own area but Leverkusen do well to keep the ball moving and Demirbay forces a solid save from Trapp with his right-footed strike.
40'
APPROACHING THE BREAK
Frankfurt remain on the front-foot now as we approach half-time, but the away side have struggled to create clear-cut chances on goal. Silva, for example, has been kept quiet by Dragovic and Tapsoba.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
© Pool/Getty Images
33'
FRANKFURT BUILDING
It's been a slow start here from the Eagles, but the away side are staying patient in possession and building from the back. Tidy interplay sends Durm into the area down the right and he forces a save from Hradecky with Frankfurt's first shot on target today.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'
TAPSOBA HEADER!
Another good chance for Leverkusen as Demirbay's corner curls in from the right and is met by Tapsoba ahead of Hinteregger, but he heads the ball narrowly wide past Trapp and the Frankfurt goal.
26'
BAILEY HEAVILY INVOLVED
Over 60 percent of Leverkusen's attacks so far today have come down the left flank with Bailey the creator of many of them, with Sinkgraven supporting him.
25'
BAYER QUICK OUT THE BLOCKS
20'
FORCING THEIR WAY
N'Dicka has a shot blocked just outside the Leverkusen area with Frankfurt battling for every second ball around the opposition area. A rare attack for the away side who have been second-best so far.
15'
ALL LEVERKUSEN SO FAR
The hosts have dominated the opening 15 minutes or so here, keeping Frankfurt penned in their own half with big chances on goal coming their way, too. Silva, Kostic and Co. have been kept quiet at the other end.
12'
KNOCK FOR PALACIOS
The Argentine midfielder has just come back from a lengthy injury lay-off and has taken a knock here, but is back up and looks able to continue.
BAILEY'S FACE TELLS THE STORY
© Pool/Getty Images
9'
HUGE CHANCE FOR BELLARABI!
The only reason Leverkusen aren't ahead yet is the incredible work of Trapp in the Frankfurt goal. Schick sends a cross into the middle and it comes out to Bellarabi at the back post who smashes a low shot at goal. Trapp is moving across his goalline to meet it and keeps the ball out with his right foot. The Germany international has been kept busy so far.
5'
BIG DOUBLE CHANCE!
Leverkusen almost grab the opener as Wirtz steals the ball from Barkok in midfield before finding Schick. He turns a shoots, forcing a save from Trapp but the rebound falls right to Bailey in front of goal. He gets his effort on target but Trapp does superbly to react once again and tip the ball around his post low to his right.
2'
TAH AT RIGHT-BACK
It's a four-man defence for Leverkusen but with Tah out at right-back and Dragovic alongside Tapsoba in the middle.
1'
AND WE'RE OFF!
The ball is rolling in Leverkusen for a huge game at the top of the table, with both sides desperate to secure European football for next season.
Kick-off!
BAILEY BANG IN FORM
Leon Bailey scored twice in his last outing at the BayArena and has scored seven of his eight league goals this season on home soil.
FRANKFURT'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DREAM
Die Adler are hoping to qualify for Europe's premier club competition for only the second time in their history, having lost to Real Madrid in the 1960 European Cup final the last time they did so. After Dortmund's defeat of Wolfsburg earlier today, the Eagles can jump into third place and go two points ahead of Wolfsburg in fourth and, crucially, four ahead of Dortmund.
0:30
WATCH: GO BEHIND-THE-SCENES IN LEVERKUSEN
SUPERB SILVA
Silva has scored 24 goals in the Bundesliga this season, third only to Lewandowski (36) and now Haaland (25) but the Portugal striker has failed to find the back of the net in two league meetings with Leverkusen. He has, however, on target in the 4-1 DFB Cup defeat to this weekend's hosts earlier in the campaign.
HISTORY ON BAYER'S SIDE
Leverkusen have only beaten VfB Stuttgart (37 wins) and Schalke (34) more times than they have Frankfurt (32). Die Werkself have won the last five meetings with Eintracht on home soil, scoring at least three times on each occasion.
LEVERKUSEN TEAM NEWS
Schick started both games in the lone striker's role, keeps Alario on the bench once again, despite scoring one goal less than the 10-strike Argentina international over the course the league campaign. Coveted teenager Wirtz earns a starting recall, while winger Bellarabi is preferred to Diaby on the right-hand flank. Hannes Wolf's side currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga, in the final European qualification spot.
FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid loanee Jovic's run in the Eintracht attack comes to an end as he drops to the bench, but Younes is carrying a knock and joins him among the substitutes. Kamada is passed fit, while countryman Hasebe replaces the suspended Rode in midfield.
2:03
WATCH: FRANKFURT 2-1 LEVERKUSEN - REVERSE FIXTURE
LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI!
Hradecky - Dragovic, Tah (c), Tapsoba, Sinkgraven - Palacios, Demirbay - Bellarabi, Wirtz, Bailey - Schick
LEVERKUSEN SUBS
Grill, Amiri, Alario, Jedvaj, Wendell, Diaby, Aranguiz, Weiser, Gray
FRANKFURT STARTING XI!
Trapp - Ilsanker, Hinteregger, N'Dicka - Durm, Sow, Hasebe (c), Kostic - Barkok, Kamada - Silva
FRANKFURT SUBS
Schubert, Hrustic, Jovic, Zuber, Chandler, Willems, Younes, Tuta, Brugger
WOLF BANKING ON HOME FORM
Hannes Wolf has overseen wins in his two home fixtures so far, and is hoping to continue that trend today. “The match against Frankfurt is now another turning point,” he said at his pre-match media briefing. “It's the end of the week of fixtures and we definitely want to get results here in this home game. We've won the last two home matches, but we also know we are facing a good opponent. We have to make every effort to take all three points."
HÜTTER ON THE RACE TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR
Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter, who will join Gladbach in the summer, is determined to steer his current side into the Champions League before leaving, and he addressed the subject in his pre-match press conference: “We’re in the stage of the campaign where it only helps to focus on yourself, and where you have to try to win every game. If you do your own job, you don’t need to look at what your rivals are doing.”
FORM - LEVERKUSEN
Die Werkself have been unable to recapture the early season consistency that had them top of the table on Matchday 12. They've blown hot and cold in their five outings under new interim head coach Hannes Wolf so far; his tenure started with a 3-0 loss to Hertha Berlin, but they followed that up with wins over Schalke and cologne and a draw with Hoffenheim. They rarely threatened leaders Bayern in a 2-0 away defeat on Tuesday, though.
2:03
WATCH: BAYERN 2-0 LEVERKUSEN
FORM - FRANKFURT
Adi Hütter's side have been superb all year and only league leaders Bayern have earned more points (41) than Frankfurt (39) in 2021. The Eagles have won four of their last five Bundesliga games, the only blip being a surprise 4-0 defeat away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 29. Still, they bounced back from that during the week with a comfortable triumph at home to Augsburg to cement fourth spot in the standings.
2:03
WATCH: FRANKFURT 2-0 AUGSBURG
ADVANTAGE LEVERKUSEN?
The respective home side has come out on top in each of the last six meetings between these teams, with Frankfurt earning a 2-1 earlier this season. Leverkusen do hold the upper hand overall historically though, with 32 wins, 13 draws and 26 defeats from their 71 Bundesliga encounters with the Eagles to date.
Welcome!
Here you will find the most important information on the game between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 31 of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season.