Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat RB Leipzig and leapfrog their opponents into third place in the Bundesliga table.
Goals from Martin Terrier and Patrik Schick cancelled out Xaver Schlager’s opener as an entertaining first half ended with three goals in nine minutes, before Montrell Culbreath wrapped up victory in second half injury-time.
Both sides traded chances early on – Schick found himself through on goal in the fifth minute but was denied by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, before Leipzig youngster Tidiam Gomis fired over the bar following a swift break.
Defender Willi Orban failed to convert at the back post when left unmarked at a free-kick, but Schlager made amends in the 35th minute when he ran on to a throw-in and placed his shot into the bottom corner.
Leverkusen responded almost immediately – Terrier met Arthur’s early cross with a flicked header that looped over Gulacsi for his second goal in as many games.
Schick turned the game in Leverkusen’s favour in the 44th minute when he ran on to Nathan Tella’s through ball, cut inside onto his right foot and finished into the top corner against his former club.
Leipzig forward Conrad Harder spurned a couple of chances early in the second half as the hosts took the initiative, but Leverkusen tightened up and saw out the game in relative comfort.
Leipzig had won all six of their previous home games this season while conceding only three goals, but conceded a third deep in injury-time when 18-year-old Culbreath pounced on an error and finished calmly into the roof of the net on his first Bundesliga appearance.
Leverkusen will return from the winter break on Saturday 10 January with a home clash against VfB Stuttgart (17:30 GMT), while Leipzig will travel to Hamburg to face St Pauli (14:30 GMT).
