Five-star Eintracht Frankfurt leave Bayer Leverkusen beaten and bewildered
Trailing by two Patrik Schick goals after just 22 minutes of a pulsating Bundesliga encounter, Eintracht Frankfurt lit up the afterburners to score five times as they blazed past a stunned Bayer Leverkusen.
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Schick 5' (assist: Andrich), 0-2 Schick (pen 22'), 1-2 Tuta (23'), 2-2 Lindström 30' (assist: Sow), 3-2 Ndicka (50'), 4-2 Jakic (66'), 5-2 Sow 76' (assist: Borre)
A Bundesliga fixture that has never before finished in a goalless draw was always likely to provide optimum entertainment and, true to form, it was quick-fire Leverkusen who got the scoring underway. Previously on target an incredible ten times in the opening quarter hour of their games this season, Gerardo Seoane's side were at it again here, with who else but Schick finishing a slick move that involved a fine Florian Wirtz backheel and a scuffed Robert Andrich assist. Schick scored an unprecedented four times for Die Werkself last weekend and he soon made it 14 for the season from the penalty spot to put his team two-nil up after Djibril Sow was adjudged to have handled in the area. Stung into action, The Eagles responded with Tuta slamming past Lukas Hradecky after a fortunate break from a corner. As the rain continued to fall on Deutsche Bank Park, Oliver Glasner's side then incredibly pulled level, Jesper Lindström driving home a first-time shot from Sow's superb through pass.
Momentum now on their side, Eintracht began the restart aiming to complete what would have been their first victory from a two-goal deficit since a 2008 triumph against Cottbus. Evan Ndicka raised that possibility when gaining control from a corner at the second attempt before firing in his second goal in three games. With chances soon arriving one after another for an Eintracht side in full flight, it was of little surprise to see Kristijan Jakic brilliantly volley in his side's fourth of the game in the 66th minute. It got even worse for the visibly stunned visitors when Sow superbly found the corner of the net from distance with arguably the game's best goal. Their stunning comeback complete, Eintracht ended the day in ninth position while third-placed Leverkusen were left lamenting what could have been following their own electric start.
Match stats
- Schick has 14 goals after 15 Bundesliga games; no other Leverkusen player has previously achieved such a feat.
- This fixture has never ended in a goalless draw in the 73 Bundesliga meetings to date – the longest such run of any team pairing in the league.
- During their 5-2 win, Eintracht became the first Bundesliga team to fall behind for the 1,000th time in a German top-flight game.
- The Bundesliga witnessed its 5,000th penalty during this fascinating Matchday 15 encounter while Schick became the division's 1,000th different penalty taker.
- Leverkusen have scored a league-high 11 times in the opening 15 minutes of their matches this season.
- Jakic became Eintracht's 268th different goalscorer in the Bundesliga; a league-high shared with Schalke.
Watch: Lindstrom: "We play for Eintracht"
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger (c), N’Dicka – Da Costa (Touré 85'), Sow (Rode 85'), Jakic, Kostic – Kamada (Lammers 87'), Lindstrom (Hauge 45', Lenz 64') – Borre
Unused subs: Ramaj, Toure, Hasebe, Lenz, Rode, Chandler, Hauge, Lammers, Paciencia
Out: -
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Frimpong (Bellarabi 75'), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Andrich (Palacios 67'), Aranguiz (Demirbay 66') – Diaby, Wirtz (Amiri 80'), Adli – Schick (Alario 80')
Unused subs: Lunev, Kossounou, Sinkgraven, Demirbay, Amiri, Palacios, Paulinho, Alario, Bellarabi
Out: Bakker (ankle), Baumgartlinger (knee), Fosu-Mensah (match fitness)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane
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