LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Interstat) — In a dramatic Frauen-Bundesliga opener that defied pregame projections, Bayer Leverkusen W opened its season with a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over RB Leipzig W on Saturday at Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion.

The match, played on Dec. 6, 2025, saw the home side overcome an early deficit with three second-half goals, two from substitutes, to secure the win. The result immediately distinguished the two clubs in the early league table, with Leverkusen moving to a perfect start and Leipzig searching for its first points.

The game began at a furious pace, with the hosts striking first. Forward Loreen Bender put Leverkusen ahead just two minutes into the contest, capitalizing on early pressure. The lead was short-lived, however, as RB Leipzig W’s Estrella Gonzalez answered in the ninth minute, leveling the score at 1-1.

The visitors then seized control of the match just before halftime. In the 56th minute, Leipzig substitute Marlene Müller found the net, giving her side a 2-1 advantage and putting the projected upset in sight. Pregame analytics from Interstat had given Leverkusen a 75.30 percent probability to win, but had projected a final score of 2-1 in Leipzig’s favor. For a brief period, that simulation appeared accurate.

The momentum shifted decisively just four minutes later. Leverkusen manager Robert de Pauw’s substitutions proved immediately impactful. In the 60th minute, fellow substitute Emilía Ásgeirsdóttir entered the match and scored almost instantly, pulling Leverkusen level at 2-2 and stunning the visiting side.

The comeback was completed by another key contribution from the bench. Substitute Victoria Krug, who had entered the match alongside Ásgeirsdóttir, provided the crucial assist on the game-winning goal. In the 73rd minute, Krug set up forward Vanessa Fudalla, who delivered the decisive strike to make it 3-2 for Leverkusen.

The match was not without its disciplinary moments. Leverkusen’s early scorer, Bender, received a yellow card in the 38th minute. The second half saw two more cautions, with Leverkusen’s Krug booked in the 67th minute and the game-winning goal scorer, Fudalla, shown a yellow card just six minutes after her goal in the 73rd.

The victory was a showcase of Leverkusen’s depth and resilience. Key performances included Fudalla’s goal and assist, Bender’s early goal and assist, and the critical interventions from the trio of substitutes: Ásgeirsdóttir with a goal, Müller with a goal for Leipzig, and Krug with an assist.

With the result, Bayer Leverkusen W begins its Frauen-Bundesliga campaign with a 1-0 record, while RB Leipzig W starts 0-1. The records mirror each team’s overall competitive standing across all tournaments to begin the season. Leverkusen will look to build on the character shown in this comeback win, while Leipzig will rue letting a winning position slip away despite a strong performance on the road.