Leverkusen's Rise Brightened by Montrell Culbreath's Stunning Bundesliga Debut

Bayer Leverkusen delivered a resounding performance under coach Kasper Hjulmand, sealing a 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig on December 21, 2025. This win propelled Leverkusen to third place in the Bundesliga with 29 points, surpassing Leipzig, who suffered their first home defeat of the season after seven consecutive wins. The match was notably marked by the breakthrough of young talent Montrell Culbreath, who scored the decisive goal in stoppage time on his Bundesliga debut, cementing his position as a rising star at just 18 years and 3 months old.

Leipzig initially took the lead with Xaver Schlager's 35th-minute goal, but Leverkusen quickly fought back with Martin Terrier equalizing in the 40th minute and Patrik Schick putting them ahead just before halftime. Culbreath’s late goal not only secured the win but also made him the fourth youngest professional scorer in Leverkusen’s history. The 18-year-old expressed his gratitude, calling the goal “the biggest Christmas gift” and acknowledging the club's trust in him. Coach Kasper Hjulmand praised Culbreath's impressive progress in training and contribution to the team, emphasizing the importance of developing homegrown talent.

Hjulmand, who assumed coaching duties early in the season after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, has transformed Leverkusen’s fortunes, leading them from the bottom of the table to a Champions League playoff spot. Despite injuries to key players like Grimaldo and Tapsoba, the team has shown significant improvement and teamwork. Players such as Martin Terrier and Malik Tillman have flourished under Hjulmand's guidance, with the coach optimistic about the squad's untapped potential. Looking ahead, Leverkusen prepares to host VfB Stuttgart following the winter break.

Leipzig’s coach Ole Werner criticized refereeing decisions during the match, highlighting a controversial non-penalized handball against Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich. Leipzig captain David Raum also expressed disappointment with the officiating. Nevertheless, Leverkusen's focus on teamwork and integrating youthful talent like Culbreath shines as a Christmas-time success story for the club and its supporters.