Champions Leverkusen held by lowly Kiel; Dortmund lose at Union

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, and Borussia Dortmund crashed 2-1 at Union Berlin.

Leverkusen were 2-0 up after eight minutes from Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann, both set up by Exequiel Palacios who turned 26 on the day. Boniface had another goal chalked off for offside as promoted Kiel had to fear the worst.

But Kiel were back in the game out the blue from Max Gschwill's header on the last play of the half. They improved after the break and Fiete Arp converted a 73rd minute penalty for the equalizer. Kiel then almost stole an improbable first season win from Benedikt Pichler's header.

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. Last season the team became the first to go through an entire Bundesliga campaign without defeat en route to a maiden league title, plus the German Cup title.

Dortmund meanwhile crashed for the second time after a mid-week Champions League win, this time a 7-1 demolition of Celtic.

Kevin Vogt converted a 26th minute 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.

Vogt scored for the first time in almost 10 years and after 275 games without success. Statisticians Opta said that was the longest scoring drought by ann outfield player in league history.

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg won 3-1 at Bochum who are now last after Kiel's point, and Freiburg prevailed 1-0 at Werder Bremen. The late game is St Pauli v Mainz.