Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 Eintracht Frankfurt — nine-man Leverkusen hold on after two red cards (12 Sept 2025)
Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a remarkable victory over Eintracht Frankfurt — winning 3–1 despite finishing the match with nine men after two second-half red cards. Alex Grimaldo was the headline maker: the Spanish full-back scored twice from set pieces (one in each half), showing both technique and calm under pressure. Patrik Schick wrapped up the game with a stoppage-time penalty after a contentious incident. Frankfurt’s Can Uzun scored to keep the game alive, but Leverkusen’s resilience and game management under severe numerical disadvantage ultimately won the day.
The result is notable on several levels. It provided a positive start for Leverkusen’s new head coach (reported as Kasper Hjulmand in some outlets), whose early tactical adjustments appear to have steadied a team that needed a clear identity after the managerial change. Leverkusen’s defensive structure tightened when down to nine, and their set-piece proficiency — often an undervalued route to goals — directly produced the match-winning moments. For Frankfurt, the defeat is a setback after a run of solid form; their strategy to exploit Leverkusen’s red-card disruptions didn’t overturn the two-goal deficit.
Match discipline will be a talking point. Two sendings-off in one game places strain on squad rotation for Leverkusen in subsequent fixtures, while also prompting questions about refereeing decisions and the nature of the infractions that led to the dismissals. Leverkusen now face a European assignment in their Champions League opener, and the fitness and suspension situation will influence selection and approach. Meanwhile, Frankfurt must re-evaluate how to maintain consistency across competitions.
On a broader level, the match highlights how finely balanced modern top-level football can be: a side reduced to nine can still manage a victory if game management, tactical shape, and set-piece quality align. That resilience will be celebrated by Leverkusen fans, while rival teams will take notice of their mental toughness. As the Bundesliga season progresses, both teams will measure this game in terms of points, momentum, and the wider tactical lessons learned.
