Two header goals: BVB beats and overtakes Leverkusen

As of: November 29, 2025 8:28 p.m

Borussia Dortmund secured an away win at Leverkusen on Saturday evening thanks to a disciplined performance. With the 2-1 (0-0) win, Dortmund overtaken their opponents from North Rhine-Westphalia in the Bundesliga table.

Aaron Anselmino (41st minute) and Karim Adeyemi (65th) secured Dortmund’s away win with their headers. Christian Kofane caused tension again with his impressive goal in the final phase (83′), but Leverkusen were unable to equalize.

Thanks to the success, BVB moved into third place with 25 points. Leverkusen slipped to fourth place with 23 points. However, Leverkusen will soon have the chance for revenge: in Dortmund on Tuesday it’s about a place in the DFB Cup quarter-finals (9 p.m., live on Erste and in the live stream on sportschau.de).

Leverkusen’s Poku misses a great opportunity

Leverkusen, possibly still buoyed by their surprising 2-0 win at Manchester City during the week, also started better against BVB. BVB also had its moments, but the hosts had their first big chance. Ibrahim Maza opened the game with an overview of the left side, Ernest Poku made a catch – and then hit the ball over the goal from the best position (10th).

The home team remained the more active team, but as the game progressed the action took place mainly in the midfield – without the game lacking in fundamental quality. Both teams defended in a disciplined manner, making it extremely difficult for the offensive lines to combine to create a finishing chance.

Tough duels

The focus was increasingly on intensive duels, and the duel between Nico Schlotterbeck (BVB) and Malik Tillman (Leverkusen) was particularly eye-catching: both were shown yellow for a rough attack on the other.

Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba was also cautioned after he pushed Karim Adeyemi unnecessarily and hit him in the face. In addition to the yellow card, the scene had another negative consequence for Bayer: the subsequent free kick from Daniel Svensson was used by the advanced central defender Anselmino with a header over the inside post to give the guests the lead.

Tillman and Guirassy with Header chances

Leverkusen were the team that did a little more for the game in the first half – and obviously that didn’t change after the break. The Werskelf were challenged and also tried to get into the goal area. However, Dortmund’s extremely attentive defense remained difficult to overcome. After a free kick, Tillman had a promising header (55′), but Leverkusen didn’t get much more out of it.

The guests initially focused on their own defensive stability, but then became increasingly dangerous themselves. Also after a free kick, the hitherto inconspicuous Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy was allowed to head free, but Mark Flekken, who reacted strongly, prevented Leverkusen from making it 0-2 (58′).

Adeyemi uses his jumping ability

Shortly afterwards, Flekken was also powerless: Substitute Fabio Silva crossed to the near post, where Adeyemi ran in at speed and headed into the near corner. As has often been the case this season, BVB was ice-cold: two of the three shots Dortmund had put on goal up to that point ended up in the net.

Even after conceding the second goal, Leverkusen had little to gain from the front – in fact, BVB seemed closer to the third goal than Leverkusen seemed to the first, and Dortmund earned their away win. Julian Brandt missed a huge chance after a strong through ball from Felix Nmecha (72nd).

In the final phase, substitute Kofane caused tension again. Maza’s cross let the storming talent pass outstandingly over his right outer instep and hit the bottom right corner unstoppably. It was the starting point for a real final offensive with lots of crosses – but Leverkusen were unable to equalize.

Direct duel in the cup

After the direct clash in the DFB Cup on Tuesday, Leverkusen have to travel to Augsburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). The next day Dortmund welcomes the in-form Hoffenheim team (5.30 p.m.).

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