Tillman's Third Goal in Four Days

After a Brace in the Champions League, Midfielder Scored Again Over the Weekend

Malik Tillman's red-hot form continued on Saturday as Bayer Leverkusen defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1, with the American midfielder netting his third goal in two matches following his brace against Villarreal in the Champions League.

The 23-year-old United States international delivered a composed finish just before halftime, picking out the bottom-right corner from just inside the penalty area to double Leverkusen's advantage after Arthur had opened the scoring in the 26th minute. The strike showcased Tillman's clinical edge, converting his only shot of the match.

"It's about time I scored more often," Tillman said afterward. "We didn't start the year so well, but I think we're slowly finding our feet again. And every win obviously boosts our confidence. Hopefully it continues like this."

Tillman's recent scoring run has been crucial for Leverkusen's resurgence after a difficult start to 2026. The victory at Deutsche Bank Park marked their third consecutive win following three straight defeats to open the calendar year. His six goals this season trail only Alejandro Grimaldo's 11 and Patrik Schick's nine among Leverkusen players in all competitions.

Beyond his goalscoring contribution, Tillman completed 89% of his passes during his 82 minutes on the pitch, winning half of his ground duels and contributing defensively with two tackles. His all-around performance helped Kasper Hjulmand's side maintain control despite Frankfurt's second-half pressure after Robin Koch pulled one back early in the restart before Aleix Garcia sealed the win with a goal in second-half stoppage time.

The victory lifted Leverkusen to sixth in the Bundesliga table, just one point behind fifth-placed RB Leipzig with a game in hand. Frankfurt's struggles continued, extending their winless run to six matches and marking their seventh consecutive defeat against Leverkusen. Manager Hjulmand praised his team's first-half performance while acknowledging room for improvement as they prepare for a DFB-Pokal quarter-final against St. Pauli on Tuesday.