The Werkself stays with Bayern
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Crazy wave of illness, glaring defensive weaknesses: Borussia Dortmund lost the spectacular Western duel against Bayer Leverkusen and started 2025 with a serious setback. The heavily weakened team of coach Nuri Şahin lost to the two-time winner 2:3 (1:3). In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Dortmund (Site notre bureau spécialisé) temple, Nathan Tella and Patrik Schick (8th/19th minute) scored Leverkusen’s goals after just 25 seconds.
Bayer 04 has moved, at least temporarily, to within one point of championship leader FC Bayern Munich. The BVB, sixth, for which Jamie Gittens (12th) and Serhou Guirassy (79th/fault) scored, risks leaving the international ranking this weekend. Difficult days await Şahin and his team.
“We are expecting a high-level match against a top opponent,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. However, their main opponent, Dortmund, had to face serious personnel problems at very short notice. Six players were missing due to illness. Yannik Lührs, 21, was the only fit central defender. It was the first time he played in the Bundesliga since the start.
“We were hoping that one or two players would still make it. But it’s difficult when there is a virus circulating. « It’s really bitter, » BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl said on « DAZN », and he didn’t know what to expect at first.
Bayer 04 immediately brutally exposed Dortmund’s defensive problems. After just 25 seconds, Tella hammered the ball into the goal after Leverkusen won the ball – it was the second fastest goal of this Bundesliga season. Only national player Jamal Musiala was faster for Bayern. Seven minutes later, Schick, completely free in front of the BVB goal, scored.
There was no break in the game. Dortmund did not give up and quickly caught up. Gittens beat Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky from close range. However, the joy only lasted a short time. Jérémie Frimpong centers in the middle, where Schick just has to push back. It was the Czech’s eleventh goal of the season. He has scored all his goals in the last six games.
Without offensive artist Florian Wirtz, whom Alonso left on the bench for a good hour for disciplinary reasons, the Leverkusen team sometimes fell back a lot. The guests relied on their speed and counterattack strength. Dortmund kept the ball moving, but rarely found any gaps in the champions’ defense. With a strong reflex, Hradecky directed a deflected shot from Guirassy over the goal. The captain was also present on a long shot from Karim Adeyemi.
Otherwise, Bayer 04 confidently took the lead and proved dangerous on points. After an hour, Schick should have made it 4-1, but was denied by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
So it became exciting again: Referee Tobias Stieler, based on the video images and a foul on Julien Duranville, decided a penalty for Dortmund, which Guirassy converted safely. Dortmund were now pressing for an equalizer, but were no longer able to assert themselves decisively. Leverkusen maintained a slight lead over time.
