When the Bundesliga resumed after the winter break, Bayer Leverkusen made a declaration of war in the title race with a 3:2 (3:1) win at Borussia Dortmund.
The double winner from Leverkusen celebrated his ninth competitive win in a row at BVB at the start of the 16th matchday and confirmed his strong form from the weeks before the winter break. With 35 points before Saturday’s games, Leverkusen moved within one point of league leaders FC Bayern Munich and has finally positioned itself as Munich’s first challenger in the title race.
After their first home defeat of the season, Dortmund remain at 25 points and are far from attacking the top. For BVB it was also the first home defeat in a Friday evening game since January 30, 2004, the 0-1 against arch-rivals Schalke 04.
Chic with a double pack
Nathan Tella gave Leverkusen the lead after just 25 seconds in front of 81,365 spectators, it was the second fastest goal of the season so far. Patrik Schick (8th) increased the lead to 2-0, after Dortmund’s goal from Jamie Gittens (12th), Schick restored the old gap with his second goal (19th). Serhou Guiriassy was only able to shorten the score from the penalty spot (78′).
The game in wintry Dortmund started 15 minutes late due to difficult travel conditions. And after a minute’s silence for club icon Teddy de Beer, who died shortly before the turn of the year, Dortmund’s stadium spokesman Norbert Dickel’s voice broke during his farewell speech.
Dortmund with core defense – Leverkusen with a lightning start
After a wave of illness in the team, BVB went into the game severely weakened. Because Niklas Süle was also injured alongside Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, coach Nuri Sahin had to build a completely new back four: the two youngsters Yannik Lührs (21 years old) and Almugara Kabar (18) made their debuts the starting eleven – with devastating effects.
After less than half a minute, Dortmund’s backup defense was caught off guard by Leverkusen’s pressing: Edmond Tapsoba intercepted the ball, passed it across to Tella, who scored with a remarkable direct shot into the corner to take the lead.
Goals ten and eleven this season for Schick
Shortly afterwards, things went too fast again for BVB: Once again it was Tapsoba who undermined Dortmund’s defensive line, this time with a fine through ball to Piero Hincapie. Schick only had to slide in in the middle.
There was a lot of fear and anxiety for BVB, but inattention in Leverkusen’s defense gave hope for the black and yellow team: Robert Andrich made a ricochet after Yan Couto’s cross, Gittens poked the ball past Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky to connect into the goal.
BVB increased their attacking efforts, but there was a lack of order in defense. Leverkusen continued to have it easy and took full advantage of this: Jeremie Frimpong had a lot of space on the right wing and even more time, his cross found Schick again, who increased the score to 3-1 with his second goal.
Leverkusen initially without Wirtz disciplinary Found
They were the tenth and eleventh goals of the season for the Czech center forward, who scored four times in the last game before Christmas against Freiburg. Victor Boniface, who was still injured, was hardly missed by the Werkself that evening, nor was Florian Wirtz, who was surprisingly placed on the bench for disciplinary reasons, as Leverkusen said.
Leverkusen’s fans set off small fireworks at halftime. Schick even had a great chance for a hat trick after an hour: Frimpong’s pass came again, but this time Schick couldn’t get the ball past Gregor Kobel. Shortly afterwards, the double goalscorer made way for Wirtz.
BVB remained committed, but hardly dangerous – only a blackout by Tapsoba made things exciting again. Leverkusen’s defender had actually already won the running duel in the penalty area against Julien Duranville, but then extended his arm against the Dortmund player completely unnecessarily. After reviewing the scene, referee Tobias Stieler decided on a penalty, and Guirassy safely converted.
Dortmund increased the pressure again in the final phase, with fresh players coming in with Donyell Malen, Gio Reyna and Marcel Sabitzer, but in the end it was a deserved victory for Leverkusen.
Dortmund in Kiel, Leverkusen against Mainz
An English week is on the agenda in the Bundesliga, with Dortmund and Leverkusen continuing next Tuesday: BVB plays at Holstein Kiel (6.30 p.m.), Bayer 04 hosts 1. FSV Mainz 05 (8.30 p.m.).