Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Drama, Red Cards, and Grimaldo’s Stunning Winner

A stormy start and Grimaldo’s magic

The evening began with nerves and tension. Frankfurt pushed forward aggressively, while Leverkusen appeared unsettled. Yet in the 10th minute, Alejandro Grimaldo sparked life into the match with a curling effort that struck the post, bounced off keeper Michael Zetterer, and trickled into the net for 1-0.

Leverkusen pressed on, fueled by Nathan Tella’s energy and Patrik Schick’s sharpness. Schick doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime after Robin Koch fouled Lucas Vázquez. For a moment, it seemed like a routine night. But the Bundesliga rarely delivers routine.

Red cards and rising tension

The game flipped in the second half. Captain Robert Andrich received a second yellow card in the 59th minute, leaving Leverkusen down to ten men. Frankfurt seized the momentum and pulled one back through Can Uzun after his shot was deflected into the net.

The atmosphere grew increasingly volatile. Referee Deniz Aytekin found himself surrounded by protests after nearly every whistle. Tempers flared between the benches, and tackles grew reckless. Leverkusen’s new signing Ezequiel Fernández saw red in stoppage time, reducing the hosts to nine players.

Theate’s fury and Aytekin’s decision

The game’s most controversial moment arrived late. Aytekin awarded Leverkusen a free kick after Lucas Vázquez was brought down near the edge of the box. Frankfurt defender Arthur Theate vehemently protested, insisting he had won the ball. But Aytekin stood firm, warning the Belgian to “be less aggressive” in future challenges.

Grimaldo needed no invitation. In the 98th minute, the Spaniard curled in a magnificent free kick — his second goal of the night — to seal the win. The stadium erupted, Hjulmand jumped up with clenched fists, and Leverkusen breathed a sigh of relief.

From Alonso’s legacy to Hjulmand’s basics

This victory, however, looked nothing like the elegant football of the Xabi Alonso era. Instead, Hjulmand emphasized simplicity: defending fiercely, pressing hard, and relying on individual quality when opportunities came. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken admitted afterward: “It sounds like youth football — just running, scratching, biting — but it worked.”

Hjulmand’s appointment came swiftly after Erik ten Hag’s disastrous two-game stint, during which harmony collapsed and Leverkusen slid into chaos. The Danish coach, who had been out of work since leaving Denmark’s national team in 2024, was desperate to return — and he found the Bundesliga waiting.

His debut was anything but dreamy: two red cards, injury concerns for Exequiel Palacios, and a furious opponent. Yet the crucial difference was the result. For a team adrift in recent weeks, three points meant everything.

Frankfurt’s frustration

Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, left with regrets. Coach Dino Toppmöller praised his side for fighting back but criticized their lack of pace and creativity. “We don’t want to run around like dead fish,” he said, frustrated by sluggish play.

Theate, still fuming long after the final whistle, embodied Frankfurt’s anger. But his protests didn’t change the scoreline: 3-1, Leverkusen.

A vital win for Bayer

For Hjulmand, the night ended with relief and optimism. He admitted: “Dream debut? No, I don’t think so. But I am happy — inspired by the fans, the football, by this crazy world.”

Leverkusen didn’t rediscover the beauty of Alonso’s football, but they rediscovered something perhaps more valuable: resilience. And with that, they might just begin to climb again.