Bayer madness!

Last-minute Leverkusen strikes again, winning in the last minute against VfL Wolfsburg 4:3. This means that the dress rehearsal before league-Cracker against record champion Bayern next Saturday (6.30 p.m.) was a success after all.

In typical Bayer fashion, Boniface (who only came on for Schick in the 68th minute) scored the redeeming goal in the 90th+3, giving the reigning champions the win.

But after this performance, doubts remain. How ready is Bayer Leverkusen for Bayern with this shaky defense?

Leverkusen star Granit Xhaka is at least not satisfied with the team after the game and vents his anger on the “DAZN” microphone.

Xhaka: “That was a huge wake-up call. We definitely can’t be satisfied. We can’t defend so naively. We conceded three goals at home against Leipzig, and three again today. We scored four. But that doesn’t happen every weekend.”

He continued: “We concede goals so easily. That shouldn’t happen at this level. A top team doesn’t concede three goals in 45 minutes. We aren’t compact enough. For me, that was a wake-up call for the whole team.”

0:1, 2:1, 2:3, 4:3!Bayer’s spectacular victory in video

For a long time it looked as if the Werkself would have to share the points. LeverkusenCoach Xabi Alonso has changed his starting eleven in five positions compared to the gala performance in the Champions League (4:0 against Rotterdam). And it’s not paying off at all!

Mukiele, in the starting eleven for Leverkusen for the first time, caused a shock for the Werkself in the first few minutes. The defender tried to clear a cross from Tiago Tomás, but accidentally put the ball into his own goal with his thigh (5th minute).

But Leverkusen had an immediate answer – in the form of Florian Wirtz, of course. From around 16 meters, the national player slammed the ball into the bottom left corner (14th).

Crazy: In the 7th competitive game of the season, Wirtz has already scored his 6th goal (4 in the Bundesliga), making him the Werkself’s top scorer.

Now Alonso’s eleven gets rolling. Tah is completely free and heads the ball into the right corner (32′). But: Wirtz is the focus again. He pushes and pulls an opponent, Svanberg, who falls to the ground. Since there is no clear wrong decision, the goal counts.

But things happen one after the other and Wolfsburg equalizes just a short time later. Bornauw heads in from close range (37′).

And then things get even worse for Xabi Alonso’s team, because the ball hits the Leverkusen goal again. Svanberg shoots from just 20 meters. Hrádecký gets his hand on it, but can’t prevent the goal (45.+1).

The second half starts right where the first half left off: with a goal! Hincapie, who had just been substituted on, fires up immediately and heads the ball in to make it 3:3 (49′).

Later excitement: straight red for Wolfsburg’s Gehrhardt (88th minute). Frimpong falls to the ground. Gerhardt kicks him badly on the ankle. Referee Stegemann sends him off.

Next Saturday, Alonso’s team will have to travel to Munich for the top match (6.30 p.m.).