PSV hit back to draw at Bayer Leverkusen

Ismael Saibari hit the equaliser as PSV frustrated Bayer Leverkusen with a 1-1 draw at the BayArena.

After surviving an early scare courtesy of a belated offside call, the German side looked to be on course for a deserved victory when Christian Kofane took advantage of some ponderous defending in the 65th minute.

But the lead only lasted seven minutes, Saibari with a cool finish as he drifted into a gap between two Leverkusen defenders. The result meant a second draw in as many games for Leverkusen and a first point of the campaign for their opponents.

PSV thought they had taken a lead with just four minutes on the clock, Dennis Man whipping a fine cross towards the far post where Ivan Perisic rose to head in from a tight angle. VAR cut the celebrations short as the Croatian was ultimately judged offside.

Leverkusen took control soon after, Alejandro Grimaldo trying his luck from an unpromising position and rattling the post, and kept the away team starved of meaningful possession.

Goalkeeper Matej Kovar, on loan from Leverkusen, denied his parent club when he smothered Malik Tillman’s effort and was also alert when Ernest Poku had a sight of goal.

The reigning Eredivisie champions only had themselves to blame when they did concede, inexplicably looking to pass their way out of trouble at the back and inviting the opportunistic Kofane to pick their pockets before turn it past Mark Flekken.

PSV’s resistance was not dimmed and when Guus Til found Saibari in the box, the Moroccan forward produced a decisive moment of quality.