Bayer Leverkusen surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw 3-3 against 10-man Werder Bremen in a pulsating Bundesliga clash at the Weserstadion, leaving both teams still searching for their first win of the season.
The match got off to a frenetic start, with 18-year-old Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly enduring a baptism of fire on his senior debut.
A loose pass from Coulibaly allowed Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella to surge down the flank and tee up Patrik Schick for an easy opener.
Leverkusen controlled the early stages, but Bremen showed glimpses of menace. Marco Grull’s effort narrowly missed, hinting at the chaos to come. Yet, Bremen’s defensive vulnerabilities were soon exploited again.
Alex Grimaldo surged forward, and Christian Kofane’s weakly cleared cross fell to debutant Malik Tillman, who volleyed in from close range to double the visitors’ lead.
Bremen fought back, however, and a moment of poor defending from Leverkusen allowed Romano Schmid to convert a penalty after Axel Tape fouled Samuel Mbangula inside the box, cutting the deficit before half-time.
The second half saw Bremen reduced to 10 men after Niklas Stark fouled Kofane in a dangerous position, though Leverkusen restored their two-goal cushion from the resulting penalty, with Schick again finding the target from 12 yards.
Defensive lapses continued to haunt Leverkusen. Isaac Schmidt capitalized on a loose long ball, rounding Mark Flekken to make it 3-2 and keep Bremen alive.
The Weserstadion erupted, and the home side’s relentless spirit was rewarded in stoppage time. Coulibaly redeemed his earlier error, reacting quickest to a header off the bar and slotting in a 94th-minute equaliser.
For Erik ten Hag, Leverkusen’s inability to hold a lead against ten men will be a bitter disappointment, while Bremen coach Horst Steffen can take pride in his side’s resilience and determination.
