Bayer Leverkusen climbed into third place in the German Bundesliga after a thrilling 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday, thanks to goals from Martin Terrier, Patrik Schick, and Montrell Culbreath.
Xaver Schlager had put Leipzig ahead, but Leverkusen responded swiftly with Terrier and Schick both finding the net within four minutes just before halftime. Teenage winger Culbreath then sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time on his top-flight debut.
Leipzig slipped to fourth following their second consecutive defeat, trailing second-placed Borussia Dortmund by three points.
“It was a really top match. It could’ve finished 4-4,” Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich said. “You can see how we’re developing as a team.”
Bayern Munich, the reigning champions, will look to restore their nine-point lead atop the table when they face Heidenheim on Sunday.
Both sides arrived undermanned due to injuries, suspensions, and Africa Cup commitments. Schlager opened the scoring for Leipzig in the 35th minute, evading several defenders before curling a precise shot inside the left-hand post.
Leverkusen responded just five minutes later, with Terrier, fresh from an incredible scorpion-kick back-heel last week, heading in a superb glancing effort.
Schick then added a second for the visitors four minutes later, finishing off a Nathan Tella pass after evading a sliding Kosta Nedeljkovic.
As Leipzig pressed for an equalizer, Leverkusen countered with pace, culminating in Culbreath’s stoppage-time strike to wrap up the win.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Stuttgart were held to a goalless draw at home against Hoffenheim, leaving them three points outside the Champions League spots.
Tiago Tomas’ close-range attempt before halftime was saved by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, and Deniz Undav’s stoppage-time header was disallowed for a narrow offside.
Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor reflected on the result, telling DAZN: “We were the better team today but we just couldn’t get it over the line and when we did, we heard the ref’s whistle.”
Eintracht Frankfurt’s defensive woes continued with a 1-1 draw away at Hamburg. Albert Sambi Lokonga had put the hosts ahead, but Hugo Larsson equalized for Frankfurt.
A late winner from Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira was ruled out by VAR for offside. Frankfurt, who finished third last season, sit seventh this term with 30 goals conceded – the most in the league.
Hamburg, promoted after seven seasons in the second division, have shown strong home form, collecting 14 of their 16 points at their 57,000-capacity Volksparkstadion.
Union Berlin secured a 1-0 win at 10-man Cologne thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Andras Schaefer, keeping them in touch with European qualification spots.
In other matches, Freiburg overcame Wolfsburg 4-3 after coming from behind twice despite a hat-trick from home striker Dzenan Pejcinovic, while Augsburg and Werder Bremen played out a goalless draw.
