Alex Grimaldo scored two spectacular free-kicks as a resilient nine-man Bayer Leverkusen gave new coach Kasper Hjulmand a winning start with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Leverkusen secured their first league win of the season despite the second-half dismissals of captain Robert Andrich and midfielder Exequiel Palacios. The result at the BayArena ended Frankfurt’s perfect start to the campaign and an eight-match unbeaten run stretching back to last season.
Hjulmand, who was appointed this week following the sacking of Erik ten Hag after a winless start to the season, saw his side take a deserved lead when Spanish international Grimaldo curled a stunning 25-metre free-kick into the top corner.
Frankfurt, who had won their opening two league matches, fought back after the interval, with Can Uzun levelling the score with a crisp volley seven minutes into the second half.
Leverkusen’s momentum was halted in the 59th minute when captain Andrich was sent off for a second bookable offence. The hosts’ discipline frayed further in a bad-tempered finale when Palacios also received a second yellow card, leaving them to defend with nine men.
However, Leverkusen retook the lead against the run of play in stoppage time. Patrik Schick calmly converted a penalty after Nathan Tella was brought down in the box. Grimaldo then sealed the improbable victory moments later, firing in another superb free-kick to complete his brace and spark jubilant celebrations.
Both clubs will now turn their attention to their UEFA Champions League openers next week. Leverkusen are scheduled to travel to FC Copenhagen, while Frankfurt will host Galatasaray.
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