The Bundesliga 2025/26 season rolled on with plenty of drama as Bayer Leverkusen handed Eintracht Frankfurt yet another tough lesson at Deutsche Bank Park, posting a 3-1 win that not only dampened spirits but also cast further doubt on Frankfurt's current trajectory. For fans eager to see a Frankfurt revival after their midweek Champions League exit, the match brought more heartache and a story filled with missed opportunities, moments of controversy, and flashes of brilliance.
Early controversy sets the tone for an unpredictable clash
The match started with a bang as Frankfurt, desperate to reverse their fortunes, charged at Leverkusen from the first whistle. Within five minutes, the hosts believed fortune had smiled when Robert Andrich tangled with Arnaud Kalimuendo inside the box. The palpable tension froze the stadium as referee Robert Schroder headed to the pitchside monitor following a VAR review. To the collective disbelief of Frankfurt supporters, the penalty shout was waved away, letting Leverkusen off the hook early and setting a nervy undertone for what was to come.
It didn’t take long for Leverkusen to assert their dominance and drew first blood in the 26th minute. Arthur coolly slotted home following a sublime backheel from Alejandro Grimaldo—a move that will surely replay in the minds of both fans and defenders alike. Then, as halftime approached, Malik Tillman doubled Leverkusen’s advantage, picking his spot just inside the area to beat Kaua Santos and leave Frankfurt chasing shadows.
Frankfurt’s flicker of hope meets Leverkusen’s ruthless finish
Fans barely had time to settle into their seats after the break when Robin Koch reignited hope, burying a follow-up after Janis Blaswich parried his initial effort. That quick response brought a surge of energy and belief back to the stands—could this be the moment Frankfurt turned their luck? However, the hosts’ momentum was cruelly disrupted when Ellyes Skhiri saw red for two rapid yellow cards—a reckless spell that left Frankfurt down to ten men and their ambitions in the balance.
Even with the disadvantage, Frankfurt pressed on bravely. Substitute Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab came close, forcing a vital save from Blaswich, while Aurele Amenda sent a header narrowly wide. Each miss only heightened the sense of “what if?” as the minutes slipped away.
Ultimately, Leverkusen’s discipline and opportunism decided the contest. In stoppage time, Aleix Garcia capitalized on an error by Arthur Theate and coolly tucked in Leverkusen’s third, sealing the result and exploiting Frankfurt’s commitment to attack.
A painful streak and a club searching for answers
Friday saw Albert Riera confirmed as Frankfurt’s new head coach, but interim duo Dennis Schmitt and Alexander Meier remained on the touchline. They could only watch as Frankfurt slumped to a seventh straight Bundesliga defeat against Leverkusen—a truly unwanted record made worse by the fact that it’s their worst ongoing run against any top-flight side. With Frankfurt now enduring their longest winless Bundesliga sequence since 2022-23, when they went a nightmare ten games without victory, urgent answers are needed.
Key stats from another difficult afternoon for Frankfurt fans:
- Six Bundesliga matches without a win
- Seven straight league defeats to Leverkusen
- Worst Bundesliga streak since the 2022-23 season
- Conceded three goals at home despite 14 shots on Leverkusen’s goal