German champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday handed Borussia Dortmund their first home league defeat this season following a 3-2 win at Signal Iduna Park as the Bundesliga returns after its customary winter break, Afrosport reports.
Leverkusen set the tone early on as Nigeria international Nathan Tella put the holders ahead inside one minute. The 25-year-old rifled a half-volley into the top corner with just 25 seconds on the clock for his first league goal of the season.
Xabi Alonso’s men soon doubled their lead through Czech forward Patrik Schick, who swept home a low cross from Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel in the eighth minute.
Dortmund, however stunned, were not going down without a fight, especially with the roaring noise from the home crowd, and English forward Jamie Gittens provided them with a lifeline four minutes later.
The 20-year-old drew one back for the hosts, scooping the ball over keeper Lukas Hradecky after Leverkusen failed to clear their lines, to notch his sixth Bundesliga goal of the season and 10th in all competitions.
With Dortmund slowly starting to settle more into the game, Schick doubled Leverkusen’s advantage with his second goal of the game. The 28-year-old got on the end of a low cross from Jeremie Frimpong before finishing it off at the far post for his 11th league goal of the season.
Guinea international Serhou Guirassy provided a glimmer of hope for Dortmund, reducing the deficit from the penalty spot after Edmond Tapsoba was adjudged to have impeded Julien Duranville with an outstretched arm following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Starting 2025 with a W! 😮💨
90+5′ | 2-3 | #BVBB04 pic.twitter.com/fGfVh4yEMT
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 10, 2025
Despite Dortmund having more control of the game, attempting more passes and shots, Leverkusen proved to be the more clinical side, and they eventually held on for the win, their first in 2025.
The result ensured Leverkusen, who maintained their second position in the Bundesliga standings with 35 points, are just one point shy of leaders Bayern Munich, with the Bavarians set for a tough visit to Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Dortmund, meanwhile, continue to be underwhelming this season as they occupy the sixth position with 25 points after 16 matches, 11 points off the top.
