Leverkusen fight back to thrash Wolfsburg 6-3 in Bundesliga thriller
Bayer Leverkusen staged a remarkable second-half comeback from 3-1 down to defeat VfL Wolfsburg 6-3 at the BayArena on Friday, dealing a crushing blow to the visitors' survival hopes. The result keeps Leverkusen's Champions League qualification ambitions alive while leaving Wolfsburg deep in relegation trouble with just seven games remaining.
Wolfsburg, who began the day second from bottom, appeared on course for a vital victory after a stunning first-half display. Jonas Wind opened the scoring in the 16th minute, with Joakim Maehle and Christian Eriksen adding further goals to establish a 3-1 lead, despite an Alex Grimaldo penalty for Leverkusen. However, the hosts turned the game on its head after the break with five unanswered goals.
Grimaldo struck again just before half-time to make it 3-2, setting the stage for a dominant Leverkusen performance in the second period. Substitute Patrik Schick converted a penalty to level the scores in the 53rd minute, before Edmond Tapsoba put Leverkusen ahead for the first time. Ibrahim Maza and Malik Tillman added late goals to complete the rout. According to Sportschau, it was the seventh time this season Wolfsburg have lost a match after taking the lead.
The victory was a crucial one for Leverkusen and coach Kasper Hjulmand, ending a run of five matches without a win in all competitions. Speaking to Sportschau after the match, Hjulmand described the game as a 'rollercoaster' and praised the character of his team. The win moves Leverkusen onto 49 points, though they remain in sixth place, four points off the top four and Champions League qualification.
For Wolfsburg, the collapse marks another low point in a disastrous season. They remain on 21 points, three adrift of the relegation playoff place, and are now winless in the entire second half of the campaign. Interim coach Dieter Hecking, who took over in February, pointed to decisions that went against his side, including what he called an 'impossible penalty' for Leverkusen's first goal, but acknowledged his team became too passive defensively.
The defensive frailties were stark, with Wolfsburg now jointly possessing the league's worst defensive record alongside Heidenheim, having conceded 63 goals. The manner of the collapse, surrendering a two-goal lead, will raise serious questions about the squad's mentality for the final run-in. Leverkusen, meanwhile, showed the attacking potency that has defined their season when at their best, but will need greater defensive consistency in their chase for Europe.
Leverkusen travel to face Borussia Dortmund next Saturday, while Wolfsburg host Eintracht Frankfurt on the same day in what is becoming a must-win fixture for the struggling club.
