Die Roten Bullen showed plenty of early intent, and after Nordi Mukiele had tested Peter Gulacsi from range, Xavi Simons saw a shot saved by Lukas Hradecky when the hosts won the ball high up the pitch.
They still found themselves behind in the 19th minute, as mere moments after an altercation with Willi Orban, Florian Wirtz danced his way into the box before hitting a shot that bounced off the post towards Patrik Schick for the striker to score the 13th goal in his last eight league starts.
Leipzig continued to threaten by putting crosses into the box, although Lois Openda headed marginally over when under pressure from Jonathan Tah.
Wirtz then created space for himself again but was denied by Gulacsi spectacularly tipping the ball behind off the post, before the visitors were gifted a second goal. With David Raum down injured, Die Roten Bullen kept playing and conceded possession to Wirtz in their own box, allowing him to tee up Aleix Garcia for his first Bundesliga goal.
Raum came back with a vengeance just five minutes later, hitting a free-kick that flicked off Piero Hincapié’s head, crashed off the crossbar, off the floor, and into the roof of the net as the temperature rose.
Raum then performed defensive heroics with a goalline block to deny Exequiel Palacios within three minutes of the Argentine’s introduction at the interval.
There was still another blow for Die Roten Bullen, as Kevin Kampl went off injured before Antonio Nusa cut in but fired over the crossbar as Die Werkself managed to calm down proceedings.
The visitors couldn’t add to their lead, though, as Palacios’ shot was saved, Wirtz saw another strike cannon off the post and Hincapie turned Mukiele’s cross wide.
They then escaped a scare unscathed as Benjamin Sesko was denied by Hradecky having been allowed to touch down Xavi Simons’ corner before Jeremie Frimpong blazed his effort over.
They were punished in the 85th minute, when Edmond Tapsoba headed Xavi Simons’ dinked free-kick into his net, as Leverkusen lost their eight-game winning streak in the Bundesliga having also been defeated by Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last time out.
While Leipzig may now be winless in their last three league matches, this comeback and their European victory over Sporting CP in midweek can act as a major boost for the club.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)