Bayer Leverkusen’s footballers gave their new coach Kasper Hjulmand against Eintracht Frankfurt with furious use. The Rhinelander, which had been outnumbered long outnumbered, conquered the Hessen, which had previously started perfectly into the season, 3: 1 (2-0) in a gripping game.
It was the first victory for Bayer 04 on the third Bundesliga matchday. The runner -up had separated from Coach Erik Ten HAG after only two months. Under his successor Hjulmand, the team, which was significantly changed in an XXL break, immediately had more stable, more determined and showed enormous resistance.
The Frankfurters, who had won their first three competitive games, were long surprisingly harmless on the offensive. They also made unusual mistakes in defense.
In front of 30,210 spectators in the BayArena, Alejandro Grimaldo (10th minute and 90.+8) and Patrik Schick (45.+4/penalty) scored the gates for Leverkusen. Can Uzun only managed the connection goal for Frankfurt (52nd). Because Bayer captain Robert Andrich Gelb-Rot saw (59.), Eintracht played more than half an hour with a man. In addition, Ezequiel Fernández also saw the yellow-red card in the second minute of the long injury time-so Bayer was only too ninth in the end.
Less than 55 hours after Hjulmand’s first training session with his new team, the workself began to wait. In front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, Frankfurt actually came into play better.
A good individual campaign by Leverkusens Nathan Tella, a foul and a free kick then ensured early Bayer leadership. Grimaldo raised the ball over the wall, hit the post and the body of Eintracht keeper Michael Zetterer jumped into the goal.
Even after the deficit, the Hesse, who had to do without the diseased Hugo Larsson at short notice and had to change Rasmus Kristensen early, had to change the ball more often than the hosts. However, the better chances were achieved. The striking Tella, Jarell Quansah and chic missed it despite good opportunities to expand the lead.
Serious fouls from Koch
On the other hand, Eintracht always came close to the penalty area, but rarely dangerously. The recently so striking Ritsu Doan and center forward Jonathan Burkardt hardly got their offensive class on the pitch.
Very different Tella. In the stoppage time of the first half, the best Leverkusener Robin Koch first let out in the penalty area and was then fouled by the Frankfurt national player. Schick remained freezing cold from the penalty point.
However, the game was far from decided. After a corner, the Leverkuseners could not free themselves and Uzun met for the connection. When Andrich also had to get off the field with yellow-red, it was clear that the champions from 2024 had to adjust to an extremely stressful half an hour.
Frankfurt now put pressure on, but the team from Coach Dino Toppmöller did not really get a lot of big chances. Namdi Collins failed with a long -range shot on the crossbar (61.). Otherwise, Bayer defended the narrow lead in a toxic final phase. And even with two players less on the square, was allowed to cheer again thanks to the new Grimaldo free kick.
