Patrik Schick’s injury-time header completed a stunning comeback for Bayer Leverkusen as they secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Stuttgart on Sunday, reducing the gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to six points.
Bayern’s 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday presented Leverkusen with an opportunity to close in, but Xabi Alonso’s side appeared destined for defeat, trailing for most of the match.
Missing star playmaker Florian Wirtz due to injury, Leverkusen fell behind early when Nick Woltemade set up Jamie Leweling, whose shot was parried by Lukas Hradecky, only for Ermedin Demirovic to slot in the rebound.
Three minutes into the second half, Woltemade doubled Stuttgart’s lead, finishing off an Enzo Millot pass on the counterattack.
Leverkusen responded through Jeremie Frimpong, who tapped in a rebound from Robert Andrich’s effort in the 56th minute. However, their hopes suffered another blow six minutes later when Granit Xhaka inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Piero Hincapie reignited Leverkusen’s fightback with a 68th-minute goal before Victor Boniface levelled the match in the 88th minute, his powerful strike deflecting in off Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller.
As they have done many times during their historic Bundesliga-winning campaign last season, Leverkusen produced a dramatic late twist. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Schick rose to meet a Frimpong cross, sending the visiting bench into wild celebrations.
After their Champions League last-16 elimination by Bayern midweek, Leverkusen now have eight league matches left to chase down the Bavarians.
Stuttgart, who shocked many by finishing second last season, now sit 10th after the loss.
Meanwhile, Heidenheim boosted their slim survival hopes with a crucial 3-1 home victory over Holstein Kiel, moving off the bottom of the table. Goals from Marvin Pieringer, Budu Zivzivadze, and Sirlord Conteh secured the win, while Phil Harres netted Kiel’s only goal.
