Bayer Leverkusen Held to 1-1 Draw by St. Pauli as Bundesliga Title Hopes Diminish with Four Games Remaining

Bayer Leverkusen's Title Hopes Fade After 1-1 Draw Against St. Pauli

Bayer Leverkusen’s bid to retain their Bundesliga crown suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St. Pauli on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Millerntor-Stadion.

Leverkusen took the lead in the first half when Patrik Schick headed home from a pinpoint Álex Grimaldo free-kick. Despite dominating large spells of the match, they failed to kill off the contest and were punished late in the game.

A crucial error from goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký in the closing minutes allowed St. Pauli’s Boukhalfa to pounce on a loose ball in the box and fire home the equalizer, dealing a major blow to Leverkusen’s fading title hopes.

This latest result leaves Xabi Alonso’s side trailing Bayern Munich by eight points with only four games left in the season. The draw follows a recent goalless stalemate against Union Berlin, marking another missed opportunity for the defending champions to close the gap at the top.

With time running out, Leverkusen’s focus may now shift towards securing Champions League qualification and ending the season on a strong note.