New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) — Bayer Leverkusen claimed their first victory of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season with a 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, giving new coach Kasper Hjulmand a dream debut on Friday night.
Leverkusen struck early when Alejandro Grimaldo’s 10th-minute free-kick hit the post and rebounded off goalkeeper Michael Zetterer into the net. The hosts doubled their advantage just before halftime, with Patrik Schick converting a penalty after Nathan Tella was fouled by Frankfurt captain Robin Koch.
Frankfurt responded quickly after the restart as rising star Can Uzun reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute, scoring his third consecutive league goal. The visitors pressed for an equaliser, hitting the crossbar through Nnamdi Collins before Uzun narrowly missed another chance.
Leverkusen’s task became harder when captain Robert Andrich was sent off in the 59th minute, followed by Exequiel Fernandez’s dismissal in stoppage time. Reduced to nine men, the hosts still sealed the win in the 98th minute when Grimaldo curled in a superb free-kick for his second of the night.
The result lifts Leverkusen to their first win of the campaign after taking just one point from their opening two matches, while Frankfurt’s winless streak in Leverkusen continues — a run dating back to December 2013.
