Berlin, Dec 21 (NationPress) Bayer Leverkusen concluded the Bundesliga year triumphantly with an away victory on Saturday, overcoming RB Leipzig 3-1 to ascend to third place in the standings.

In a match characterized by high intensity, Leverkusen began strongly, displaying confidence in their passing and generating early opportunities through Patrik Schick and Martin Terrier. Leipzig countered effectively and gradually started to dominate, with Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken making a crucial save to deny Conrad Harder from long range, as reported by Xinhua.

Leipzig took the lead in the 35th minute following a swift throw-in on the right side. Christoph Baumgartner set up Xaver Schlager, who skillfully maneuvered near the edge of the box and placed a low shot into the bottom corner.

Leverkusen quickly equalized as Terrier found the net with a header from Arthur's cross in the 40th minute. Just before the halftime whistle, Schick capitalized on a counterattack, evading his defender in the box and scoring decisively to give Leverkusen a 2-1 advantage at halftime.

After the break, Leipzig mounted significant pressure. Both Harder and Tidiam Gomis came close to scoring, while Flekken executed a vital one-on-one save during Leipzig's most dominant phase.

Despite Leipzig controlling possession late in the game, clear-cut chances were scarce. Their last opportunity came in stoppage time when captain Willi Orban's header failed to challenge Flekken.

Leverkusen secured the victory moments later. Substitute Montrell Culbreath broke free on the counter and scored on his Bundesliga debut, with the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR review.

This victory propels Leverkusen to 29 points from 15 matches, placing them above Leipzig on goal difference and into third position. Leipzig falls to fourth after suffering their first home defeat of the season.

“It was a relatively even match with opportunities for both sides,” stated Marcel Schaefer, Leipzig's managing director for sport. “Leverkusen played exceptionally well and deserve recognition. We head into the winter break following two losses, but we will come back stronger in January.”

In other matches, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim played to a 0-0 draw, Freiburg narrowly defeated Wolfsburg 4-3, Union Berlin overcame 10-man Cologne 1-0, Hamburg and Frankfurt ended in a 1-1 tie, while Augsburg and Werder Bremen finished 0-0.