BVB lose 3-2 to Leverkusen

Match Report

BVB lose 3-2 to Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund have lost their opening game of 2025. BVB suffered a 3-2 (3-1) defeat at the hands of reigning German champions and currently second-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 16 of the Bundesliga.

Boris Rupert reporting
In front of 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, BVB, who were heavily depleted in defence, found themselves 2-0 down after seven minutes from the visitors' first two shots on goal. First Tella found the back of the net with just 25 seconds on the clock, then Schick added a second for Leverkusen. Gittens reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 12th minute, but Schick added his second goal just seven minutes later. BVB had good chances through Guirassy (28) and Adeyemi (42), but were frustrated by an impressive Hradecky in the away goal. Eleven minutes before the end, Guirassy pulled the score back to within a goal at 3-2 with a successful spot-kick.

The scenario:
Sixth against second. The Black & Yellows were unbeaten in five Bundesliga games, albeit they had drawn three of these games. The Werkself came into the match on a 13-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, with five wins in their last five outings. The Black & Yellows had only lost once of the past seven meetings between the two sides.

Personnel matters:
All three centre-backs and the regular captain were absent: Niklas Süle was injured, while Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton and Emre Can were sidelined by an infection, which also affected left-back Ramy Bensebaini. Pascal Gross, who has helped out in the right-back position on several occasions, is still serving a red-card suspension which runs up to and including Tuesday's fixture. Only Julian Ryerson was available from the tried-and-tested back four. In addition, deputy goalkeeper Alexander Meyer (also ill) was absent and Marcel Sabitzer was only able to make the bench following an injury.

Tactics:
BVB started the game with five changes to the line-up that won 3-1 in Wolfsburg before Christmas, but the tactical set-up remained the same. In a 4-1-2-3, Couto (right) and Kabar (left) occupied the wide positions of the back four, while Ryerson moved inside and, together with Lührs, marked the two Leverkusen strikers. In build-up play, centre-forward Guirassy often dropped deep into midfield, behind Beier and Brandt. Leverkusen adopted a 4-4-2 formation with two compact defensive lines out of possession and variable, vertical play going forward. Grimaldo usually moved into a central position when in possession.

The match & analysis:
The match could not have got off to a worse start for BVB. Under pressure, Couto hit a vague ball forward from near the right corner flag. Tapsoba claimed possession and played it forwards to Andrich, who headed it on to Tella. The Leverkusen forward didn't think twice before drilling the ball into the net at 101 km/h from a half-left position some 17 metres out. 25 seconds had elapsed at this point. The patchwork BVB defence kept being exposed on the flanks. In the seventh minute, Tapsoba sent Hincapie clear down the left. The wideman had plenty of space and delivered a low cross to the far post, where the wide-open Schick finished calmly to double the advantage for the away side. Seven minutes had been played, two shots, two goals - 2-0.

But the Black & Yellows were able to quickly muster up a response and make the most of their first opportunity. Couto advanced down the right, crossed low to the centre, where Andrich made a mess of the clearance. Gittens emerged from the left to pounce on the loose ball and deftly chipped it over Hradecky to make it 2-1. But hopes of a quick turnaround were short-lived. Grimaldo passed from the centre circle to Frimpong on the right, who had far too much space and delivered to the far post, where Schick was on hand to score from close range to make it 3-1 (19).

The action continued at a spectacular pace. In the 28th minute, Guirassy shot on the turn from the edge of the box, Xhaka got a leg in the way, and Hradecky, who was already on his way to the other corner, made a reflex save to turn the ball away for a corner. BVB then gained confidence through longer passages of possession, but only had one good opportunity before the break: in the 42nd minute, Adeyemi forced Hradecky into a brilliant save with a shot from 18 metres out, and Bayer's goalkeeper was also on hand to save Beiers' follow-up shot (albeit from an offside position). Dortmund went into half-time with eight shots on goal to Leverkusen's five, but 3-1 down on the scoreboard.

BVB pushed hard to mount a comeback after the break. But Bayer were consistent and disciplined in defence, always getting enough players behind the ball to frustrate the Black & Yellows. The one glimpse of goal came from an Adeyemi shot in the 54th minute. Down the other end, a strong save from Kobel was required to prevent Schick from making it 4-1 (61).

In the 76th minute, substitute Duranville was stopped in his tracks in the penalty area due to a blow to the face from Tapsoba. Referee Stieler took a second look at the scene on the monitor and awarded a penalty, which Guirassy slotted home calmly. The stadium was rocking, Leverkusen were reeling. But they held firm.

Outlook:
In the first of three consecutive "English weeks" to kick off the 2025 football year, BVB will play away to Holstein Kiel on Tuesday (kick-off 18:30 CET) followed by a trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday (20:30 CET).

Teams & goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 16
Friday, 10 January 2025, 20:45 CET
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 (1-3) BAYER LEVERKUSEN

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel - Couto, Ryerson (89, Campbell), Lührs, Kabar (79, Sabitzer) - Nmecha - Beier (79, Reyna), Brandt - Adeyemi (63, Duranville), Guirassy, Gittens (79, Malen)
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky - Mukiele, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong (89, Arthur), Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo (89, Palacios) - Schick (63, Wirtz), Tella (74, Terrier)
Substitutes: Lotka, Wätjen, Azhil, Lelle - Kovar, Natali, Aleix Garcia, Hofmann, Stepanov
Goals: 0-1 Tella (1, Andrich), 0-2 Schick (8, Hincapie), 1-2 Gittens (12, Couto), 1-3 Schick (19, Frimpong), 2-2 Guirassy (79, penalty, Tapsoba foul on Duranville)
Corners: 6-2 (4-1 at half-time), chance ratio: 4-5 (3-4)
Referee: Stieler (Hamburg), bookings: Nmecha - Schick, Tapsoba
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: sleet, 1 degree celsius