BUNDESLIGA PLAYER RATINGS | RB Leipzig 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen – Leverkusen end 2025 with a hard fought victory

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RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen both looked to wrap up a mixed 2025 with a win in their final Bundesliga game of the year before the winter break.

Both have been affected by the Africa Cup of Nations, with Leverkusen losing key players such as Ibrahim Maza and Edmond Tapsoba, while Leipzig’s star of the first half of the season, Yan Diomande, also headed to Morocco. 

Leipzig had the best chances at the beginning of the first half, best highlighted by the hosts winning the ball back and countering on a three-on-two situation, but Tidiam Gomies would miss a great chance to take the lead. However, Ole Werner’s side would take the lead in the 35th minute when Aleix Garcia gave away a sloppy throw-in. The resultant throw-in was given to Xaver Schlager, who evaded several Leverkusen players before curling his rfgfort past Mark Flekken to make it 1-0.

Die Werkself would not be behind for long when Martin Terrier would score a lopping header in the 40th minute, his second in two games, to level it. Four minutes later, Schick would be played through, and after a smart chop to get the ball onto his right foot, would make it 2-1. Nathan Tella then had a similar chance to double Leverkusen’s lead, but Peter Gulacsi saved his effort. 

Kasper Hjulmand’s side were then forced to work for their win in the second half, with Conrad Harder having a good chance early on to equalise, but his left-footed stab would be saved by Mark Flekken. Leipzig would have a couple more chances to equalise in the second half, with Harder again at the centre of things for the hosts, but his effort would go the wrong side of the post. 

Substitute Christian Kofane did have a chance to make Leverkusen’s lead more comfortable, but Gulacsi would pull off an impressive double save. Leipzig would have a handball claim against Robert Andrich right at the end of the game for a potential penalty, but die Werkself would head down the other end and substitute Montrell Culbreath would score on his debut to make it 3-1.

Takeaways:

Considering how Leverkusen started the season with the Erik ten Hag era as well as the mass exodus, the fact that they find themselves third and putting in strong performances, despite having several key players missing, heading into 2026 in third place will be seen as a big positive. 

Hjulmand has found a style that works for his side, and it has helped get the best out of players, who last season, seemingly struggled, such as Martin Terrier or Arthur. 

Leverkusen have shown that their current squad has the potential to challenge for a title, probably even before Borussia Dortmund can. 

Leipzig, however, has been sliding backwards in recent games. They have lost two games in a row, have a host of injuries, and just overall look flat when it comes to their energy. The winter break has come at the right time. Come the restart of the Bundesliga, they should be in a good position to go again. 

RB Leipzig:

Peter Gulácsi (5), Kosta Nedeljkovic (5), Willi Orban (5), Castello Lukeba (5), David Raum (5),  Nicolas Seiwald (5), Xaver Schlager (6), Christoph Baumgartner (6), Tidiam Gomis (5), Romulo (5), Conrad Harder (6)

Others: Ridle Baku (5), Andrija Maksimovic (5), Timo Werner (-), El Chadaille Bitshiabu (-)

Bayer Leverkusen:

Mark Flekken (7), Robert Andrich (5), Loïc Bade (5), Jeanuël Belocian (5), Arthur (6), Malik Tillmann (5), Aleix García (5), Nathan Tella (6), Martin Terrier (6), Jonas Hofmann (5), Patrik Schick (6)

Others: Equi Fernandez (5), Christian Kofane (5), Axel Tape (5), Montrell Culbreath (5), Lucas Vazquez (-)