Berlin: Bayer Leverkusen missed a chance to reclaim the lead in the Bundesliga on Sunday, suffering a 4-1 loss at VfL Wolfsburg, meaning that promoted Paderborn’s magical weekend continued by staying atop the Bundesliga.
Ricardo Rodriguez scored two goals and set up another as Wolfsburg handed Leverkusen their first defeat of the season and picked up their first victory.
Leverkusen went a man down after just seven minutes after a red card for Giulio Donati, whose foul in the box resulted in Rodriguez’s first goal in the eighth minute.
Leverkusen, who came into the weekend as table-toppers, equalised in the 29th minute through Josip Drmic, but Vieirinha made it 2-1 after 45 minutes after a pass from Rodriguez.
The Swiss defender added a second goal in the 63rd and Aaron Hunt added the fourth in the 81st minute.
“The whole thing was too much for us,” said Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt.
“They are a strong opponent, there was an early red card and goal. And then the goal right before half-time. It was just too much for my young team.”
Leverkusen’s seven points leave them fifth behind a quartet of teams with eight points — one more than Schmidt’s side.
The other Sunday match saw FC Cologne hold Borussia Moenchengladbach to a scoreless draw at home as both teams moved to six points, while Cologne have yet to concede a goal this season.
