Victor Boniface scored a 72nd-minute winner as Bayer Leverkusen completed a 2-1 comeback victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday (Oct 19). Champions Leverkusen, who face Brest in the UEFA Champions League next week, missed a fifth-minute penalty through Boniface, but the Nigeria international made amends in the second half to lift Leverkusen up to 14 points in fourth place, leapfrogging Eintracht. It was a day that also saw RB Leipzig provisionally take over the Bundesliga lead with their 2-0 victory at Mainz 05.
Victor Boniface found the winner as Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen capped a fine attacking performance with a 2-1 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Boniface saw a tame early penalty saved and Frankfurt went ahead when Bundesliga top scorer Omar Marmoush scored for the sixth league game in a row from another penalty.
Germany international Robert Andrich equalised at the end of a flowing move, steering low into the far corner. Boniface then wasted several good chances as Xabi Alonso’s side laid siege to the Frankfurt goal.
Kevin Trapp made at least two fine saves to deny the striker and Andrich hit the post, but Boniface was on hand to grab the points.
Trapp could only palm out a cross from Florian Wirtz and Boniface was there to head in.
Frankfurt had barely threatened in the second half but almost stole a point at the end with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and defender Jonathan Tah getting in each other’s way when trying to clear the ball. Hugo Ekitike pounced on the ball and looked to have a tap-in but Tah made a wonderful last-man challenge.
Leverkusen had 27 shots on goal in the end and are up to fourth in the table having lost just once in the first seven games of their title defence.
Bayern Munich returned to the top by thrashing Stuttgart later on Saturday (Oct 19).
