Bayer Leverkusen continued their dominant run against Eintracht Frankfurt with a comprehensive 3-1 victory at Deutsche Bank Park on Saturday, extending Frankfurt's winless streak to eight matches across all competitions. The defeat marked Frankfurt's seventh consecutive Bundesliga loss against Leverkusen, their worst ongoing record against any top-flight opponent.
Brazilian defender Arthur opened the scoring in the 26th minute after Álex Grimaldo set him up with a clever heel pass, with Arthur beating goalkeeper Kaua Santos at his near post. American forward Malik Tillman doubled the lead in the 33rd minute with a fine low strike inside the right post, marking his third goal in two games following his midweek strike in Leverkusen's 3-0 Champions League victory over Villarreal.
Frankfurt pulled one back through Robin Koch in the 50th minute, as the defender sent an instinctive follow-up past Janis Blaswich after the goalkeeper initially saved his volley. However, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Aleix Garcia sealed the victory in stoppage time with a counterattacking goal, finishing coolly to make it 3-1.
The result leaves Frankfurt in a precarious position, having now gone six straight Bundesliga matches without a win. The club finished the game with ten men, adding to their woes in what has been a difficult period. This was the final match before new Spanish coach Albert Riera takes charge on Monday, following the dismissal of Dino Toppmöller on January 18.
For Leverkusen, the victory continues their impressive form as they sit comfortably in the upper reaches of the Bundesliga table with 35 points from 19 matches. Tillman's consistent scoring has been a highlight, with the American international proving a valuable addition to Xabi Alonso's squad this season.
Frankfurt's struggles have been compounded by their midweek exit from the Champions League, making the coaching change even more crucial. Riera will face the significant challenge of reviving a team that has lost its way after a promising start to the campaign. The Eagles sit on 27 points with a record of 7 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses, leaving them in mid-table with much work to do in the second half of the season.
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