In an electrifying Bundesliga clash, Bayer Leverkusen staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 4-3 win over VfL Wolfsburg, with Victor Boniface delivering a stunning 93rd-minute winner on Sunday. The match, held at the BayArena, saw Leverkusen twice come from behind in a relentless contest that left fans on the edge of their seats.
The victory places Bayer Leverkusen on nine points from four matches, level with SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, and just ahead of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, who were yet to play later in the day.
Despite the triumph, the performance left questions, as Bayer Leverkusen struggled defensively throughout the game. Midfielder Granit Xhaka did not shy away from criticizing the team’s lax defending.
“This was a massive wake-up call for us,” Xhaka said post-match to DAZN. “We can’t keep playing like this. A top team doesn’t concede two goals in nine minutes. It’s unacceptable.”
A Roller-Coaster First Half
Coach Xabi Alonso, fresh off a commanding 4-0 Champions League victory over Feyenoord, made five changes to the starting lineup. This rotation appeared to backfire immediately, as Bayer Leverkusen suffered an early setback. Just four minutes in, an unfortunate own goal by Nordi Mukiele gifted Wolfsburg the lead, setting the tone for a frenetic first half.
Bayer Leverkusen, however, quickly responded. In the 13th minute, Florian Wirtz found space outside the box and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to level the score. Moments later, Jonathan Tah rose unmarked to head in Leverkusen’s second goal at the back post, turning the game in their favor.
But Wolfsburg weren’t done. Sebastiaan Bornauw equalized with a powerful header, and just before halftime, Mattias Svanberg burst through Leverkusen’s defense and curled a superb shot past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, sending Wolfsburg into the break 3-2 up.
Second-Half Resurgence
Recognizing the need for change, Alonso made two substitutions at halftime, which paid immediate dividends. Leverkusen’s pressure mounted, and in the 49th minute, Piero Hincapié powered home a corner to make it 3-3, setting the stage for a nerve-wracking final stretch.
With Wolfsburg visibly tiring, Alonso introduced Victor Boniface and Martin Terrier as Leverkusen hunted a winner. As Wolfsburg’s defense began to crumble, the visitors’ hopes were further dashed in the 88th minute when substitute Yannick Gerhardt was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Jeremie Frimpong.
Boniface Delivers the Final Blow
Sensing blood, Bayer Leverkusen surged forward. In the dying moments, Boniface, who had come off the bench, seized his moment. Pouncing on a loose ball in the box, the Nigerian striker smashed it past Wolfsburg’s goalkeeper, igniting wild celebrations in the stadium.
“We knew Wolfsburg would try to slow the game down, but we wanted to win this for our fans,” Boniface said after the match. “I’m happy I could make the difference at the end.”
Looking Ahead
The win sets Leverkusen up for a top-of-the-table clash against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich next Saturday. While their attacking prowess is undeniable, the defensive lapses Xhaka spoke of will need to be addressed if they are to challenge Bayern and maintain their momentum in the league.
