Bayer Leverkusen overturned an early deficit to beat RB Leipzig 3-1 at Red Bull Arena, climbing above Leipzig into third place on goal difference and moving within three points of second-placed Borussia
Dortmund in the Bundesliga standings after a strong away performance.
Kasper Hjulmand’s team trailed after 35 minutes but struck twice before half-time, then added a stoppage-time goal. Leipzig produced several dangerous moments after the interval, yet the hosts could not find a second goal and slipped to another league defeat.
The statistical picture reflected Leverkusen’s edge in attack. The visitors created 3.17 expected goals from 15 attempts, with eight shots on target. Leipzig registered 19 efforts and hit the target seven times, but Ole Werner’s players generated an expected goals figure of 1.84 and lacked ruthless finishing.
Leipzig’s loss carried extra weight in the wider season story. The result meant Leipzig suffered back-to-back Bundesliga defeats within a single campaign for the first time since November 2024. For Leverkusen, the victory came after two losses in the previous three league trips, against Augsburg and Bayern Munich.
The scoring opened on 35 minutes when Xaver Schlager drove across the edge of the area and fired a low shot into the corner, giving Leipzig a 1-0 lead. That advantage lasted only five minutes, though, as Leverkusen equalised through Martin Terrier’s precise header from Arthur’s cross.
The visitors completed the first-half turnaround in the 44th minute. Nathan Tella released Patrik Schick with a throughball during a fast counter. Schick surged into the box and finished from close range, striking high into the net to send Leverkusen into the break 2-1 ahead.
After half-time, Leipzig pushed hard for a response. Conrad Harder went close twice in quick succession, increasing pressure on the Leverkusen defence. Schlager then threatened again late on, but Mark Flekken stayed composed and produced a vital save to protect the narrow lead.
The final goal arrived deep into added time. With Leipzig committed forward, Leverkusen broke quickly on another counter-attack. Eighteen-year-old Montrell Culbreath, making a Bundesliga debut, finished neatly to make it 3-1 and add a late highlight to an already important away success.
A huge win to end 2025! 90+6' | 1-3 | #RBLB04 pic.twitter.com/DhpKMuAOh1Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 20, 2025
Leverkusen’s comeback, backed by strong attacking metrics and clinical counters, tightened the race near the top of the Bundesliga table. Leipzig’s performance contained periods of pressure but lacked a decisive final touch, leaving Werner’s side under scrutiny while Hjulmand’s players strengthened momentum heading into the next fixtures.
