García shines as Leverkusen dominate Frankfurt | OneFootball

Aleix García masterclass enables Bayer Leverkusen to cruise to victory over Eintracht Frankfurt

Bayer Leverkusen secured a statement 4-1 victory away at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, with goals from Nathan Tella, Nordi Mukiele, Patrik Schick and Aleix García consolidating a dominant performance all over the pitch.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-4 Bayer LeverkusenGoals: 0-1 Tella 26' (assist: Xhaka), 0-2 Mukiele (29'), 0-3 Schick 33' (assist: Grimaldo), 1-3 Ekitké (37'), 1-4 García (62')

The Deutsche Bank Park was a more than suitable stage for a crucial Bundesliga encounter between third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt and second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With both teams vying for Champions League spots, the match promised to be a thrilling contest. Leverkusen entered the game on a remarkable 22-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, while Frankfurt sought to bounce back from a heavy defeat against Bayern Munich in their previous outing.

Nathan Tella celebrates exuberantly after opening the scoring for Bayer Leverkusen (IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel)

First-half goal fest

The match exploded into life in the 26th minute when Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella broke the deadlock for Leverkusen. Tella latched onto a precise pass from Granit Xhaka before calmly slotting past Kevin Trapp. Just three minutes later, Nordi Mukiele Mulere doubled the visitors' lead, after reacting quickest in a goal-mouth scramble following a corner. Leverkusen's dominance continued as Patrik Schick made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute, finishing off a well-worked move involving Alejandro Grimaldo Garcia. Frankfurt, however, showed signs of life when Hugo Ekitiké pulled one back in the 37th minute, capitalising on a defensive error to give the home fans hope.

García celebrates his goal with midfield co-star Granit Xhaka, with whom he dominated the middle of the pitch. (IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus)

Leverkusen maintain control

Frankfurt made two changes at half-time, with Oscar Höjlund replacing Hugo Larsson and Nnamdi Collins coming on for Ansgar Knauff. Despite these tactical adjustments, Leverkusen maintained their grip on the game. The visitors' dominance was underlined in the 62nd minute when Aleix García Serrano scored a stunning goal from the edge of the box, effectively sealing the victory. García's strike was a testament to Leverkusen's attacking prowess. The match saw further changes, with Amine Adli replacing Schick for Leverkusen, while Frankfurt brought on Michy Batshuayi and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya in an attempt to change the tide. However, Leverkusen's game management came to the fore in the latter stages, as they controlled possession and limited Frankfurt's opportunities. The disciplinary aspect of the game saw Xhaka receiving a yellow card in the 69th minute, followed by Ellyes Skhiri for Frankfurt in the 80th minute.

Player of the Match: Aleix García

García was the standout performer in Leverkusen's impressive victory. The Spanish midfielder controlled the tempo of the game, showcasing his excellent passing range and vision. García's influence was evident throughout, but it was his goal in the 62nd minute that truly highlighted his impact. His first-time strike from outside the box was both technically brilliant and crucial in killing off Frankfurt's hopes of a comeback. With a goal, an assist, and a commanding midfield display, García proved instrumental in Leverkusen's dominant performance.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Frankfurt 1.02 - Leverkusen 2.47Fastest player: Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen), 35.25 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-4 by Aleix García (Leverkusen), 5.66 percentMost pressed player: Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen), 30 times under pressurePass efficiency: Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen), +3.84

Fantasy Heroes: Nordi Mukiele (Leverkusen, 364 Points), Aleix García (Leverkusen, 334 Points), Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen, 253 Points)

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