Leipzig pegged back by Leverkusen in German League title race post draw
BERLIN: RB Leipzig lost ground on leaders Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga table on Sunday after fighting out a 1-1 draw at home to a Kai Havertz-inspired Bayer Leverkusen.
Leipzig are three points behind Bayern in second, with Borussia Dortmund one point further back.
Leipzig’s defence held firm to open the match amid wave after wave of attack led by Havertz, who eventually cut the ball back from the right flank for Leon Bailey to opening the scoring in the 30th minute.
It was the first time Leipzig -- who came into the match with the stingiest defence in the Bundesliga -- had conceded a goal in five games.
Leipzig struck back immediately however, with Roma loanee Patrick Schick heading in a lofted free kick from Christopher Nkunku to make it 1-1 in the 32nd minute. The goal, Schick’s third in five games, survived a VAR check for handball.
Leverkusen striker Lucas Alario had a chance to make it 2-1 in the dying stages of the first half when he broke from the halfway line to find himself one-on-one with Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi, but hit his effort directly at the Hungarian shot-stopper.
The home side started the second half the better of the two teams, but were unable to capitalise on the creativity of Emil Forsberg, with talisman Timo Werner hooked in the 71st minute after having an off day. Havertz had one final chance to snare all three points for Leverkusen in the 75th minute but was unable to control the ball with the goal beckoning.
Earlier, Wout Weghorst’s late header helped Wolfsburg claw themselves back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin amid more protests against the German FA (DFB) and Hoffenheim benefactor Dietmar Hopp.
Dutch international Weghorst was a shining light for the visitors and would have had more goals to his name were it not for some excellent saves from Berlin keeper Rafal Gikiewicz.