Bayer Leverkusen produced a stunning four-minute turnaround to defeat RB Leipzig 3-1 away from home, ending their hosts' perfect home record this season and surging into third place in the Bundesliga table ahead of the winter break.
Schick Seals Stunning Leverkusen Turnaround
The match at the Red Bull Arena saw the home side take a deserved lead in the 35th minute through Xaver Schlager, who finished a fine solo run with a shot threaded through defenders. However, Leverkusen's response was swift and decisive.
Just five minutes later, Martin Terrier rose to loop a header into the net for the equaliser. The comeback was completed before half-time, as Patrik Schick expertly wrong-footed defender Kosta Nedeljkovic before curling a superb finish past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi in the 44th minute.
Leverkusen's two goals in four minutes completely changed the complexion of the game. Leipzig pushed hard after the interval, with Conrad Harder and David Raum coming close, but they were caught out in stoppage time. Substitute Montrell Culbreath netted a third for Leverkusen to seal a memorable victory, inflicting Leipzig's first home defeat of the campaign after six consecutive wins.
Bundesliga Table Shake-Up Before the Break
This crucial result means Bayer Leverkusen move onto 29 points, leapfrogging Leipzig into third place. They now sit just three points behind second-placed Borussia Dortmund. RB Leipzig drop to fourth on goal difference. Bayern Munich, leading the league on 38 points, played on Sunday.
Dramatic Action Across the Bundesliga
Elsewhere in Germany's top flight, a remarkable individual performance ended in defeat. Dzenan Pejcinovic scored a hat-trick for Wolfsburg, but his side still lost 4-3 at home to Freiburg. The 20-year-old, starting in place of the absent Mohamed Amoura, capitalised on defensive errors for all three of his goals, which were his first in the Bundesliga.
Wolfsburg's defensive frailties were their undoing, however. Defender Jenson Seelt conceded a penalty and deflected a save into his own net, allowing Freiburg to level twice before Derry Scherhant came off the bench to score a 78th-minute winner.
In other Saturday fixtures, Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1 with Hamburg, a result that leaves Frankfurt seventh. Hugo Larsson cancelled out Albert Sambi Lokonga's opener for Hamburg, and a late goal from on-loan Arsenal midfielder Fábio Vieira was ruled out for a narrow offside after a video review.
Stuttgart and Hoffenheim played out a goalless draw, with Deniz Undav's offside header in added time the closest either side came. Union Berlin left it late to beat 10-man Cologne 1-0, with András Schäfer scoring a dramatic winner from a corner in stoppage time after Rav van den Berg's red card. The match between Augsburg and Werder Bremen also finished 0-0.
