Despite being 2-0 down inside eight minutes, Holstein Kiel fought back to earn a famous 2-2 draw away at champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen were wearing a special black kit, reminiscent of their first-ever strip from 1907, to celebrate their 120th anniversary and their 100th game under Xabi Alonso, who marked two years in charge at the club on the day. Kiel were at the bottom of the table with just a single point and hadn't yet won a game in the Bundesliga.

Boniface and Hofmann set Leverkusen off to a flying start. The match got off to a flying start, with Leverkusen asserting their dominance from the outset. Victor Boniface put Kiel ahead inside four minutes with a cool finish, slotting the ball through Timon Weiner's legs after a slick pass from Exequiel Palacios, who was celebrating his birthday. The Nigerian striker's fourth Bundesliga goal of the season set the tone for what was looking like a long afternoon for the visitors. Boniface kept up the pressure, forcing Weiner into a full-stretch save just two minutes later. The champions' hard work paid off again in the eighth minute when Jonas Hofmann doubled the lead. Palacios provided his second assist of the match, finding Hofmann who fired low across the goal and into the far corner. With two goals in eight minutes, Leverkusen looked like they were cruising towards a comfortable victory.

But Kiel showed real resilience. Despite Leverkusen starting strongly, Holstein kept up the pressure. The visitors gradually found their rhythm, with Lewis Holtby leading the way. His effort in the 22nd minute, which just missed the target, gave the hosts a bit of a warning. As the first half was coming to an end, it was clear that Kiel's determination had paid off. With just over five minutes of extra time left, Max Geschwill was the first to react to Holtby's corner, heading the ball past Lukáš Hrádecký to make it 1-1. This crucial goal kept Kiel in the game and also shifted the momentum, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.

In the second half, Kiel came back with a new energy and took the fight to Leverkusen. The visitors made some key tactical changes at half-time, bringing on Fiete Arp and Benedikt Pichler, which proved to be really important. The game changed in the 68th minute when Jeremie Frimpong fouled Armin Gigović in the box. Arp stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, levelling the score at 2-2. It was Arp's first Bundesliga goal since November 2017. The equaliser came as a shock to the Bay Arena and completely changed the way the match was going, with Kiel now pushing for an unlikely victory.

In the last 20 minutes, both teams were pushing for a winner, creating a thrilling end-to-end spectacle. Leverkusen, annoyed by the equaliser, started attacking again. Piero Hincapié and Martin Terrier both had good chances with headers, while Alejandro Grimaldo saw his effort blocked. Kiel, encouraged by their comeback, had their own opportunities to secure the win. Pichler made a great save from Hrádecký with a header in the 73rd minute. As the match entered its final stages, both sides knew that a single moment of brilliance could decide the outcome. However, despite the best efforts of both teams and Leverkusen's knack for scoring late, the score remained level at the final whistle, with Kiel earning only their second point in the Bundesliga.