Highlights
D. Jöllenbeck
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0:21
Watch: Xabi Alonso: “An explosion of happiness”
0:31
Xavi on his pre-game ball-kissing ritual
Full-time! Leipzig 2-3 Leverkusen
© Stuart Franklin
Full-time
90'
+ 2
Leverkusen sub
Hložek replaces countryman Schick, who has led the line admirably despite not having much to feed on. Two of the four allotted minutes still to play...
90'
+ 2
Substitution
90'
+ 1
Leverkusen lead for the first time!
The Bundesliga leaders strike again! Grimaldo is the provider with an inch-perfect corner that's poked home at the back post by the unmarked Hincapié!
Goal probability 
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 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.
88'
Palacios injury?
Andrich is on for Palacios, who appeared to hurt himself a few minutes ago. Alonso can do without another injury, given his current list of absentees.
88'
Substitution
86'
Leverkusen in charge
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
2
1.0
1.98
2
Goals
86'
86'
85'
Final Leipzig change
Xavi, who scored a spectacular opening goal, but faded after the restart, heads off. January signing Eljif Elmas is his replacement.
84'
Substitution
82'
Leverkusen plugging away
Wirtz sends over a corner that Blaswich shovels behind. Leverkusen keep the chance alive from their next attempt, before Hincapié shoots straight at Blaswich.
81'
Alonso-ball
Leverkusen build again, switching the ball from left to right with ease. Tella drives a cross towards the back post, but nobody's home.
80'
Patrik Slick
Superb football from Leverkusen as Schick rolls his marker and slides a perfect ball in behind the Leipzig defence for Grimaldo. The shot's on, but he opts for a return pass that's hooked away.
Dead-ball prowess
© Stuart Franklin
75'
Four Leipzig changes
Fresh legs at right-back, in midfield and up top. Leipzig have certainly been second best for the rump of the second half.
74'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
74'
Substitution
73'
Off target
Wirtz powers into the Leipzig box, before passing back to Grimaldo, who sends an ambitious dinked attempt over Blaswich's goal.
72'
Xavi suspension
Xavi's penalised for a late and high boot on Xhaka. It's his fifth yellow of the season, meaning he'll miss next week's meeting with third-placed Vf Stuttgart.
68'
Leverkusen asking questions
Quick-fire warning shots as Wirtz and then Grimaldo shoot wide, the latter via a deflection that yields a corner - but Leipzig survive.
67'
Sweeper-keeper
Blaswich dashes out of the area to toe clear a long forward pass. Leverkusen have their tails up again...
66'
Third Bayer booking
Wirtz joins Tah and Stanišić in the book after standing far too close to a Leipzig free-kick on halfway.
64'
Tah-da!
Leverkusen hit back for the second time at the Red Bull Arena. With Xavi off the pitch, Tah rises highest to head in Wirtz's in-swinging corner - 2-2!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
61'
Xavi concern
Xavi's in some pain, down on the turf clutching an ankle after blocking a cross from Hofmann. Leipzig will have a corner to defend in a moment...
59'
Leipzig defying xG
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
2
0.94
1.41
1
Goals
56'
Openda for Leipzig!
Wow! Wirtz forces a save from Blaswich to win a corner that's played horribly short. Leipzig pick it off and attack with Xavi. Olmo takes the ball on and slides a pass across the area for Openda to sink a clinical first-time finish.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
52'
Half chance!
Wirtz pops up again on the left for Leverkusen. He feeds Schick, whose first-time effort is into the side netting. Leverkusen are playing with far greater purpose since the restart...
48'
Leverkusen equalise!
What a start to the second half! Wirtz skips in off the left and finds Schick, who touches it back out to the wing for Grimaldo. He asks the question with a low ball into the six-yard box, where Tella skips away from Raum to fire home from close range.
48'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionGoal
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
Kick-off!
Half-time
Half-time: Leipzig 1-0 Leverkusen
© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch
45'
+ 3
Worth a hit!
Schick takes aim in the Leipzig area following a mistake by Klostermann, but his shot cannons off Simakan's standing leg and behind off his own.
45'
Time added on
Three minutes at the end of a very impressive first half from a Leipzig perspective...
42'
Hincapié to the rescue!
Hofmann wants a corner after combining with Tella down the Leverkusen right, but the ball was still in play when Blaswich made the catch. Leipzig go straight up the other end with Openda. He finds Šeško, who's stopped from getting a shot off by Hincapié's superb recovery challenge.
41'
Expected Goals
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
1
0.4
0.24
0
Goals
38'
Proceed with caution
Stanišić with a tactical foul to stop Openda from playing Leipzig into a 2-v-1 attack. He's the second Bayer defender to be booked this first half.
0:29
Watch: Xavi's stunning opening goal
34'
No way through
Schick tries to control a ball into the box from Wirtz, but Simakan does just enough to put the former Leipzig striker off.
32'
Wide!
Hofmann drives a speculative shot wide from range. The Germany international has five Bundesliga goals this season, but hasn't scored in eight.
31'
Tella joins the action
There's the change, with Nathan Tella on for the injured Frimpong. The former Arsenal youngster is making his ninth Bundesliga appearance.
31'
Substitution
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.
29'
Leipzig knocking at the door
Olmo breezes past Stanišić towards the byline, but his cross only finds the legs of Hrádecký. Alonso is cutting a very pensive figure in the technical area...
28'
Frimpong blow
Frimpong's gone down for the second time. It doesn't look like he'll be shaking this off...
25'
Leipzig in charge
Goal attempts
2off target
4on target
2off target
0on target
25'
Possession (%)
6436
21'
Chance!
Leipzig respond with Simakan, whose lose cross towards the near post forces Hrádecký into a crucial diving save. Stanišić then clears ahead of Openda.
19'
Bayer showing signs
Leverkusen appear to have taken the sting out of Leipzig's bright start as Wirtz tries to bring a chipped pass into the penalty area under his spell. For once, however, the December Player of the Month's deft touch evades him.
17'
Grimald-no!
Leverkusen's first real chance of note very nearly produces the equaliser. Grimaldo connects with Frimpong's cut-back in the box, but his rising strike is too close to Blaswich, who bats clear.
Leipzig's main man
© Stuart Franklin
14'
Olmo-st!
Hrádecký is unmoved as Olmo bends a shot wide of the upright from 20 yards. That wasn't far away!
12'
Yellow peril
The Leverkusen defender is booked for a foul on Openda. He'll have to watch his step from here, and will miss next week's derby against Gladbach.
9'
Chance!
Almost a second Leipzig goal as Olmo slides a pass into the box for Šeško, who puts it wide on the stretch. Leverkusen are all over the place!
8'
Outrageous from Xavi!
Šeško gets the better of Tah on the left and finds Schlager. He clips a pass into the box for Xavi, who takes a superb first touch, an even better second one on the turn and applies a sensational finish into the bottom corner. Magic!
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
5'
Denied!
Nervy moment for Leverkusen as Xavi slips a pass into the box for Šeško. He takes one touch too many, though, and Stanišić is able to get a block in. Openda then stings the palms of Hrádecký, who is fortunate to see the loose ball cleared to safety.
1'
Under way!
Fourth meets first - it should be a cracker!
Kick-off!
Teams out
There's a fantastic atmosphere inside the Red Bull Arena, befitting a top-four contest. Can Leipzig avenge their Matchday 1 loss at Leverkusen?
Table talk
Leverkusen begin the day four points clear of Bayern, who host Bremen tomorrow before playing their game in hand against Union Berlin on Wednesday. Leipzig are 12 points back in fourth, ahead of Dortmund - 4-0 winners in Cologne earlier today - on goal difference.
Familiar face
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick scored 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga games whilst on loan at Leipzig from Roma in 2019/20. Will the Czech striker be back to haunt his former club today?
0:06
Watch: The boys in blue
0:20
Watch: Oh, Dani boy!
More on those teams
Rose makes three changes to the team beaten by Frankfurt. Castello Lukeba is recalled at centre-back, with Benjamin Henrichs making way and Lukas Klostermann moving out to the right. Nicolas Seiwald is preferred to Kevin Kampl in central midfield, while Dani Olmo is passed fit to make his first Bundesliga start since 9 September 2023, with Christoph Baumgartner benched. As for Leverkusen, Jonathan Tah returns in defence at the expense of Robert Andrich in the only change to the team that scored a late win over Augsburg on Matchday 17.
Leipzig starting line-up
Blaswich - Klostermann (c), Simakan, Castello, Raum - Olmo, Seiwald, Schlager, Xavi - Openda, Šeško
Leipzig subs
Gulácsi, Lenz, Baumgartner, Bitshiabu, Henrichs, Elmas, Baumgartner, Kampl, Poulsen, Eduardo
Leverkusen starting line-up
Hrádecký (c) - Stanišić, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Schick
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Fosu-Mensah, Andrich, Amiri, Mbamba, Puerta, Tella, Hložek, Izekor
3:17
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen playing the Alonso way
0:43
Watch: All Xavi's assists for Loïs Openda so far
0:49
Watch: Florian Wirtz voted December's Player of the Month!
Rose's view on Leverkusen
© Imago Images
Alonso's view on Leipzig
© Imago Images
Benji and Pat ready to meet old friends
Benjamin Henrichs came through the Leverkusen academy and played 76 times for the first team before heading to first Monaco and then Leipzig. Meanwhile, Patrik Schick hit 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga games for RB Leipzig on loan from Roma in 2019/20.
Probable line-ups
© Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga
2:03
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 RB Leipzig
2:03
Watch: RB Leipzig 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
2:03
Watch: Augsburg 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
0:30