Mario Gomez scored a seven-minute hattrick, the fastest in the Bundesliga this season, but it was not enough to steer his side to victory. Elsewhere, Mainz find themselves in big trouble after defeat at Ingolstadt.Bayer Leverkusen 3-3 Wolfsburg
(Bellarabi 40′, Volland 65′, Havertz 89′ – Gomez 80′, 83′, 87′ pen)
Mario Gomez’s heroics should have been enough to give Wolfsburg an astounding victory at BayArena – but a late leveler from Kai Havertz denied Wolfsburg the win.
Both sides have found themselves embroiled in a relegation dogfight, which would have seemed scarecely possible a few months ago.
And it was Leverkusen who were the sharper in front of goal, with goals from Karim Bellarabi and Kevin Volland putting the home side on track for what was shaping up to be a routine win.
But the much maligned Gomez had other ideas. He pulled one back with ten minutes to play to give the visitors hope, before adding another three minutes later to sensationally draw Wolfsburg level.
Wolfsburg were then awarded a penalty in the 87th minute, and Gomez dispatched it to bring up his hattrick and complete what looked like a stunning Wolfsburg turnaround.
But 17-year-old Havertz made a little history too, becoming Leverkusen’s youngest ever goalscoer with a late strike that could yet prove crucial in the survival hopes for both of these clubs.
Ingolstadt 2-1 Mainz
(Bregerie 10′, Hadergjonaj 73′ – Matip 70′)
Mainz are staring relegation in the face after a damaging defeat at fellow strugglers Ingolstadt.
The home side took the lead early on through Romain Bregerie, but Mainz appeared to have steadied the ship with an equalizer midway through the second half.
But Ingolstadt won it in fortuitous circumstances, with Florent Hadergjonaj’s intended cross from the right sailing over Jonas Lössl’s head and into the net.
The result sees boosts Ingolstadt’s feint hopes of survival and leaves Mainz on 29 points, level with 16th placed Augsburg.
Sunday Bundesliga – as it happened:
