With a brace from Patrick Schick and a goal from Nathan Tella, Bayer Leverkusen triumphed over Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. Jamie Gittens’ strike and Serhou Guirassy’s penalty for Dortmund weren’t enough to prevent the visitors from taking all three points.
This win moves Leverkusen temporarily within a single point of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, with 35 points. However, Bayern still has a game in hand, leaving the title race wide open.
A Frenetic Start
Fans at Signal Iduna Park barely had time to settle before Leverkusen struck their first goal—just 25 seconds into the match. The ball reached Dortmund’s defensive corner, where a clearance landed at three-quarters of the pitch. Edmond Tapsoba headed the ball back forward, and Robert Andrich flicked it to Nathan Tella. Without hesitation, Tella unleashed a first-time rocket that flew into the near post, beating the goalkeeper’s dive.
Just seven minutes later, Leverkusen doubled their lead. Tapsoba delivered a long pass down the left flank to Piero Hincapié, who carried the ball to the end line and delivered a cross into the box. Patrick Schick slid in at the far post to connect and send the ball into the net, making it 2-0.
Dortmund responded swiftly, finding the net four minutes later in the 12th minute. Yan Couto gained possession near the right sideline, dribbled toward the edge of the box, and delivered a cross that deflected off a defender. The ball bounced to the far post, where Jamie Gittens volleyed it home to bring the score to 2-1.
Leverkusen struck again in the 19th minute. A fluid buildup from their own half culminated in Jeremie Frimpong sending a precise cross from the right side of the box. Schick, in a near replica of his first goal but from the opposite side, slid in to meet the ball and scored his second of the match, restoring Leverkusen’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
A Late Penalty Couldn’t Save Dortmund
In the second half, Dortmund was awarded a penalty in the 75th minute. Julien Duranville broke into the box with a deft chip over two defenders, drawing a foul as Leverkusen’s defenders leaned into him. After a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot.
Serhou Guirassy stepped up in the 79th minute and confidently converted the penalty, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Unfortunately for the home side, Dortmund couldn’t muster another goal in the closing stages, and Leverkusen held on for the win.
