Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt Player Ratings: Grimaldo Rates 9/10 as Bayer Leverkusen Comfortably Beat Frankfurt

Bayer Leverkusen, despite being reduced to nine men, managed to secure a dramatic 3-1 victory over a stunned Eintracht Frankfurt side in an enthralling Bundesliga fixture. From our perspective, this match was a whirlwind of action from start to finish. The drama began early when an Alejandro Grimaldo free kick cannoned off the post and ricocheted in off Frankfurt keeper Michael Zetterer for an own goal.

Leverkusen looked firmly in control, doubling their lead just before the break. Nathan Tella's tricky run drew a foul from Robin Koch in the box, and Patrik Schick coolly converted the penalty. Frankfurt pulled one back through Can Uzun early in the second half, and the tide seemed to turn when Robert Andrich received his second yellow card, leaving Leverkusen with ten men.

Frankfurt pushed hard, even hitting the woodwork, but they just couldn't find an equalizer. The task should have been easier when a substitute also saw red for the home side, reducing them to nine. But against all odds, it was Leverkusen who found the net again. The magnificent Alejandro Grimaldo curled in a breathtaking free-kick in the dying moments of this match to seal an unforgettable win.

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Here are Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 6.5: Conceded once but couldn't do much about the close-range finish. Made a crucial save late in the game to keep his team's lead intact. He commanded his box reasonably well and his distribution was decent enough under pressure.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 7.0: A solid and composed performance at the back. He made several important clearances and was strong in the tackle. Won most of his aerial duels and was a steady presence as Frankfurt piled on the pressure. A mature display.

Loïc Badé - 7.5: Absolutely dominant in the air, winning an incredible six of his seven aerial battles. He was a rock at the heart of the defense. Made a couple of crucial blocks and his positioning was spot-on throughout. Really stood up to be counted when his team went down to nine men.

Edmond Tapsoba - 7.0: A very strong defensive showing. He won an impressive number of tackles and was aggressive in closing down opponents. His reading of the game was excellent, making key interceptions and clearances. Remained focused even as the chaos unfolded around him.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 9.0: Man of the match, without a doubt. His wicked free-kick forced the opening own goal, and he sealed the win with another sensational dead-ball strike. The stats show two goals, and what stood out to us was his attacking threat all game. A simply outstanding performance that won the game for his team.

Robert Andrich - 2.0: A disastrous performance from the captain. He was reckless and his two yellow cards put his team in a massive hole. Getting sent off at the hour mark was an act of pure indiscipline. He let his teammates down badly and almost cost them the match.

Lucas Vázquez - 7.0: Worked tirelessly in the midfield, especially after the red cards. He won his tackles and drew fouls to relieve pressure. His defensive contribution was immense in the final half-hour. A gritty, hard-working display that was vital for the win.

Exequiel Palacios - 6.0: Was having a decent start to the game before an unfortunate injury cut his afternoon short after just 15 minutes. He was tidy in possession and looked to be settling in. It's tough to rate him higher with such a short time on the pitch.

Forwards

Nathan Tella - 7.5: A livewire throughout his time on the pitch. His pace and trickery were a constant menace to the Frankfurt defence. He intelligently won the penalty for the second goal. A very positive and impactful performance.

Malik Tillman - 6.5: Had some bright moments and linked up play well. He got into good positions but missed a couple of half-chances. Worked hard defensively before being sacrificed for a more defensive player after the red card. A decent shift.

Patrik Schick - 7.5: Led the line effectively and showed nerves of steel to convert the penalty. He was a great physical presence, winning almost all of his aerial duels. Held the ball up well to bring his teammates into play before being substituted.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 7.0: His team showed incredible heart and organization to win with nine men. Tactically, his defensive setup after the red cards was spot on. However, he has to take some responsibility for the shocking lack of discipline that saw two of his players sent off.

Eintracht Frankfurt Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Here are Eintracht Frankfurt Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper

Michael Zetterer - 5.5: Terribly unlucky for the own goal, there was little he could do about the deflection. He made a couple of good saves but was ultimately beaten three times. He looked a little shaky at times, especially on crosses. A day to forget for the keeper.

Defenders

Arthur Theate - 5.0: A difficult evening for the defender. He struggled to contain Leverkusen's fluid attack and was caught out of position a few times. His error led to a shot, and he picked up a late yellow card. He had a lot of touches but wasn't very effective with them.

Robin Koch - 4.5: As the captain, he needed to be a leader, but instead he made a clumsy challenge to concede a penalty right before halftime. That was a game-changing error. He looked off the pace and his decision-making was poor under pressure.

Nnamdi Collins - 5.5: A very mixed performance. He was desperately unlucky to see his powerful long-range strike crash off the crossbar. However, he also committed an error leading to a shot and looked vulnerable defensively. A chaotic and inconsistent display.

Rasmus Kristensen - N/A: Substituted after just 10 minutes due to an injury. Not on the pitch long enough to receive a fair rating.

Midfielders

Oscar Højlund - 6.0: He was tidy in possession, with a high pass completion rate. He battled in midfield but failed to impose himself on the game. From our perspective, he was a bit too passive before being substituted in the second half.

Farès Chaïbi - 6.0: He saw a lot of the ball and delivered a few crosses but lacked a decisive final product. Lost possession far too many times. He worked hard but couldn't unlock the stubborn nine-man Leverkusen defence. Needed more quality in the final third.

Jean-Mattéo Bahoya - 6.5: One of Frankfurt's brighter sparks in attack. He created a few chances and his crossing was generally good. He looked dangerous at times but faded a bit as the game went on. A promising display that lacked a goal or assist.

Ritsu Doan - 5.5: A frustrating game for him. He tried to make things happen with his dribbling but often ran into dead ends. Lost possession a staggering 19 times which really killed his team's momentum. He needed to be more efficient against a nine-man team.

Can Uzun - 7.5: Frankfurt's best player on the day. He took his goal well with a smart finish from a corner. He was his team's main creative force, always looking to make something happen. It was a surprise to see him substituted. A really lively performance.

Forwards

Jonathan Burkardt - 5.0: A very quiet and ineffective performance. He missed a big chance and never really looked like scoring. He struggled to get involved in the game and was easily handled by the Leverkusen defenders. A disappointing outing.

Manager

D. Toppmöller - 3.0: A tactical failure. His team had a two-man advantage for a significant portion of the second half and not only failed to score but actually conceded again. His substitutions had little impact. From our perspective, failing to get at least a draw from that position is simply not good enough.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Grimaldo