dpa
Berlin
Champions Bayer Leverkusen squandered a 2-0 lead for the third time in six Bundesliga season games in a 2-2 draw with lowly Holstein Kiel on the second anniversary of coach Xabi Alonso’s arrival on Saturday.
There was also no luck for Borussia Dortmund who crashed 2-1 at Union Berlin, their second domestic defeat after mid-week Champions League success.
Leverkusen were 2-0 up after eight minutes from Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann, but Max Gschwill on the stroke of half-time and Fiete Arp’s 73rd-minute penalty gave the visitors a point that had appeared impossible early on.
Leverkusen had also wasted 2-0 leads on matchday one in a 3-2 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and a week later in a 3-2 home defeat against RB Leipzig.
Alonso started the Leverkusen job on October 5, 2022, in succession of Gerardo Seoane when they ranked second last, and led them to a maiden Bundesliga title in a historic unbeaten last season, plus the German Cup title.
In Berlin, Kevin Vogt converted a penalty and Yorbe Vertessen doubled Union’s lead shortly before half-time. Dortmund fought back from Julian Ryerson in the 62nd but could not find an equalizer.
Elsewhere, Jonas Wind scored a brace as Wolfsburg won 3-1 at Bochum who are now last after Kiel’s point. Freiburg prevailed 1-0 at Werder Bremen from Ritsu Doan and rose to third and Jonathan Burkardt’s brace helped Mainz win 3-0 at St Pauli.
Augsburg beat Borussia Mönchegladbach 2-1 on Friday. Sunday’s games are a table topper between Eintracht Frankfurt and leaders Bayern Munich, Heidenheim v RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart v Hoffenheim.
Leverkusen have fast start Coming off a 1-1 in Munich and a 1-0 over AC Milan, Leverkusen seemed on course to rout against promoted Kiel early on.
Boniface opened the scoring from the left and Hofmann struck from the right for the quick lead, both set up by Exequiel Palacios who turned 26 on the day.
Boniface had another goal chalked off for offside as Leverkusen ended the half with 14-4 attempts.
Kiel rebound But Kiel were back into in the game out the blue from Gschwill’s header off a corner kick on the last play of the half.
They defended better after the break and Arp converted a 73rd minute penalty for the equalizer after Jeremie Frimpong brought down Armin Gigovic.
Kiel then even almost stole an improbable first season win from Benedikt Pichler’s header.
