Kasper Hjulmand Starts Bayer Tenure with Dramatic Win Over Frankfurt

Kasper Hjulmand enjoyed a winning start to life at Bayer Leverkusen as the Bundesliga runners-up battled to a dramatic 3–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, ending the visitors’ unbeaten run.

Leverkusen took an early lead in the 10th minute when a dangerous free-kick from Álex Grimaldo led to a bizarre own goal by Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer. The advantage was doubled late in the first half as Patrik Schick calmly converted from the penalty spot.

Can Uzun gave Frankfurt hope with a well-taken goal shortly after the restart, and the match took a wild turn when Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich was sent off. Things went from bad to worse when new signing Santiago Fernández also saw red, leaving the hosts down to nine men for the final minutes.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Hjulmand’s side held firm — and sealed the win in stoppage time as Grimaldo curled in a stunning free-kick in the 98th minute to make it 3–1.

2025-26, Germany - Bundesliga

Bayer 04 - Frankfurt 3:1 (2:0)
Goals: Grimaldo, 10 (1:0); Schick, 45 (penalty) (2:0); Uzun, 52 (2:1); Grimaldo, 90 (3:1)

Bayer 04: Flekken; Quansah; Badé L.; Tapsoba E.; Grimaldo; Vazquez L.; Andrich (till 59); Tella; Palacios Ex. (Aleix Garcia, 15); Tillman M. (Fernández Ez., 62); Schick (Tape, 82)
Substitution: Aleix Garcia (from 15); Fernández Ez. (from 62 till 90); Tape (from 82)
Bench: Blaswich; Echeverri; Ben Seghir; Maza; Poku E.; Kofane
Yellow Cards: Andrich 19, 59; Fernández Ez. 78, 90; Vazquez L. 90
Red cards: Andrich 59', Fernández Ez. 90'

Frankfurt: Zetterer; Theate; Koch; Kristensen R. (Brown, 10); Collins N.; Höjlund O. (Batshuayi, 71); Chaïbi; Doan; Bahoya; Burkardt (Knauff, 83); Uzun (Dahoud, 83)
Substitution: Brown (from 10); Batshuayi (from 71); Dahoud (from 83); Knauff (from 83)
Bench: Santos Kaua; Buta A.; Skhiri; Wahi
Yellow Cards: Uzun 79; Theate 90; Wahi 90