Three days after Dortmund’s Bundesliga victory in Leverkusen, the Werkself struck back: In the cup round of 16 on Tuesday evening, Bayer won away 1-0 (0-0).
Ibrahim Maza’s beautifully scored goal in the 34th minute ultimately decided the game. As in the Bundesliga, it was a duel at eye level – but without much spectacle. On Saturday, Dortmund won the league game 2-1.
“We still had a bill to settle“said winning goal scorer Maza in the Sportschau interview.”That’s why it’s a lot of fun here. We took advantage of our chances today and then defended really well.“
“It was very unfortunate for us today“Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised his team despite the defeat.”The team gave everything, we can’t blame ourselves. These are close games against Leverkusen.”
Goal scorer Guirassy on the bench at BVB
At Dortmund, top scorer Serhou Guirassy initially sat on the bench, in Leverkusen on Saturday the Guinean refused to shake coach Niko Kovac’s hand when he was substituted. “That doesn’t mean anything“, Kovac said before the game and instead praised Fabio Silva, who was allowed to start in the center of the attack: “He’s done well in the last two weeks, so he gets the chance today.”
Tried but unlucky in his starting eleven debut: Dortmund’s Fabio Silva
Before the starting eleven made his debut with a courageous long-range shot (25th), Dortmund called for a penalty early on: Carney Chukwuemeka was held in the penalty area and fell to the ground. During and after the game in an interview, Kovac complained about the lack of a foul whistle (“In my opinion it was a penalty-worthy foul“). However, referee Tobias Stieler clearly had the opposite opinion after the game: “That’s clearly not enough for a penalty for me.“
Otherwise, the first half belonged more to Leverkusen, who had more possession of the ball and played a little more purposefully forward. But it didn’t become really dangerous for a long time – before the game suddenly picked up speed in the last ten minutes of the first half.
Maza quick to act, Adeyemi misses chances
Grimaldo refined a quick Leverkusen attack through the center with a precise pass into the penalty area to Maza. The Algerian was initially unable to control the ball, but Maza took the rebound from BVB defender Waldemar Anton directly and hit the far corner to give Leverkusen a somewhat fortunate lead.
The goal seemed to be a bit of a wake-up call for Dortmund, because BVB suddenly also had good opportunities. Karim Adeyemi, who was already a goalscorer in the Bundesliga game in Leverkusen and has been in good form for weeks, failed twice from the best position in the penalty area (40th and 42nd). “The two chances before the break hurt extremely,” said Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck after the game about Dortmund’s good equalizer opportunities.
Dortmund starts, but is not dangerous
Dortmund also tried to equalize at the beginning of the second half. With the lead behind them, Leverkusen stood deeper and barely appeared in the opposition half. But the game remained tough: both teams played extremely disciplined, so that there were hardly any gaps and hardly any mistakes that created scoring opportunities.
Shortly before his substitution, Martin Terrier, who had previously been inconspicuous, was able to celebrate briefly when he pushed a Grimaldo pass into the backcourt over the line (59th). However, there was an offside position in the making, which is why the VAR intervened. It was – as had happened several times in the previous weeks – an extremely close decision, Grimaldo was slightly too far ahead.
Offside position: Grimaldo narrowly in the forbidden area
Guirassy comes and BVB finally becomes more dangerous
As positive as the news was for BVB, Leverkusen’s second goal didn’t count – it didn’t give Borussia any impetus. There was still not enough going forward, so Kovac intervened and made a triple substitution: Guirassy came on, among others. Leverkusen also made changes – and Joker Patrik Schick had a good chance when he headed a free-kick cross towards the near post, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel parried (73.)
It was the start of an exciting final phase, the game became more hectic, Dortmund increasingly appeared with the courage of desperation. Schlotterbeck tried from a distance (76′), Anton after a corner with a side kick (80′) – Dortmund finally came closer. But it wasn’t until injury time that things got really tricky: first Flekken saved Joker Guirassy’s first shot, then Adeyemi had another good chance – but headed past the goal from close range.
Waldemar Anton (front) tries an artistic side kick
Leverkusen’s opponent will be determined on Sunday
Leverkusen continues their Bundesliga game in Augsburg on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). The next day Dortmund welcomes the in-form Hoffenheim team (5.30 p.m.). The cup draw will take place on Sunday (7:15 p.m.) and will be broadcast live on Sportschau.