Ruthless Eintracht too strong for Leverkusen
Paciencia opened the scoring early on with a clinical finish before doubling the Eagles’ lead from the penalty spot 13 minutes later. Leverkusen improved in the second half and had a penalty decision overturned by VAR, but Dost struck with ten minutes remaining to seal the victory.
Personnel: Silva ruled out through injury
The Eagles were dealt a late injury blow on Friday as André Silva was ruled out of the Matchday 8 clash with a foot injury. The Portuguese forward was replaced by Dost in one of two changes to the Eintracht team that drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen before the international break. Midfielder Gelson Fernandes also came into the side in place of Daichi Kamada, who only returned from international duty on Thursday.
First half: Paciencia at the double
The visitors went into the game three points above the Eagles in the standings, but Peter Bosz’s team were no match for Eintracht in the opening exchanges as the hosts quickly took control of proceedings. Hütter’s charges broke the deadlock after only four minutes, Paciencia latching on to Danny da Costa’s superb through-ball and firing low into the corner for his seventh goal of the campaign in all competitions.
The 25-year-old frontman was given a golden opportunity to double his and Eintracht’s tally when Leverkusen defender Aleksandar Dragovic was penalised for handball inside the visitors’ penalty area. Paciencia made no mistake from the spot, sending former Eagles goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky the wrong way to make it 2-0. The effervescent Filip Kostic had the ball in the Leverkusen net again soon afterwards, but the Serbian’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside.
Second half: No way past Rönnow
The Eagles could have been out of sight by half-time, but they showed no sign of taking their foot off the gas after the restart. Goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow was twice forced into action by first-half substitute Karim Bellarabi, but Eintracht continued to threaten and went close to a third goal when Paciencia released Kostic, who was thwarted by Hradecky from a tight angle.
Rönnow made an outstanding save to deny Lucas Alario, before Dost’s strike from Paciencia’s flick-on was chalked off for offside. Leverkusen continued to increase the pressure in search of a route back into the game and thought they had won a penalty when Fernandes was penalised for an apparent handball, but VAR overturned the referee’s decision. Dost sealed the points for Eintracht moments later, shrugging off Dragovic before bundling home his third league goal of the season.
Summary: Eagles return with a bang
Leverkusen were simply blown away by Eintracht’s hunger and tempo in a one-sided first half at the Commerzbank-Arena. There was a semblance of a response from the visitors in the second half but Hütter’s side thoroughly deserved the win, which lifts them above Bosz’s team in the standings on goal difference.
SGE line-up
Rönnow - Toure (Abraham 30’), Hasebe, Hinteregger - Fernandes - da Costa, Rode, Sow (Kohr 84’), Kostic - Paciencia, Dost (Gacinovic 85’)
Goals
1-0 Paciencia (4’)
2-0 Paciencia (pen. 17’)
3-0 Dost (80’)