Fuerth claim 'historic' Bundesliga home win; Leverkusen collapse

Greuther Fuerth finally tasted victory at home in the Bundsliga after 23 failed attempts but coronavirus restrictions meant their fans could not enjoy Sunday's 1-0 win over Union Berlin.

Havard Nielsen's 56th minute strike, with the aid of a deflection, earned Fuerth their first win at home in their second season of top-flight football, and a maiden season win.

Their previous visit to the Bundesliga in 2012/13 ended with four draws and 13 defeats at home while this season they drew once and lost five of the previous games in their own stadium.

No other Bundesliga side in history has needed so many attempts to win at home.

"A victory cannot be replacement by anything else," said Fuerth coach Stefan Leitl. "It is a historic victory."

Celebrations at full-time were limited given the game was played behind closed doors as per current pandemic rules in the state of Bavaria.

"That feels brutally good," said Nielsen. "It was a brutally difficult phase for us. We definitely had to get this first win, it was extremely important for our fans.

"I am really proud of the whole team. I am extremely pleased and very happy."

Fuerth remain bottom of the table on four points and with a goal difference of minus-34 after 15 games. They are 12 points behind Augsburg in the potential safety of a play-off place.

Third-placed Bayer Leverkusen later missed the chance to go within one point of Borussia Dortmund in second when they collapsed to a 5-2 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

"Everyone has to ask themselves today if they really wanted to win every ball," said Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky. "I have the feeling we weren't completely there today."

Tuta and Jesper Lindstrom ensured Frankfurt were level by the half hour having trailed to Patrik Schick's opening double and the second period was one-way traffic.

Evan Ndicka bundled Frankfurt in front five minutes after the restart and fine shots from Kristijan Jakic and Djibril Sow, who conceded a penalty for Schick's second.

"Today we have scored five goals and had chances for seven," said Sow. "It was a beautiful football for all the fans."

Frankfurt move up to ninth with the win, two points off Union in sixth - the final automatic European spot.

Champions Bayern Munich top the table by six points after their 2-1 win over Mainz on Saturday going into the midweek round.