Borussia Dortmund secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, surviving a late surge from the home side to leapfrog them in the Bundesliga standings. The win propels Dortmund into third place, highlighting their resilience after conceding late equalizers in their previous two league matches.
The match began with Leverkusen displaying strong control, dominating possession and creating early opportunities. Poku missed a clear chance from close range, and Hofmann's powerful shot narrowly missed the target. Dortmund, however, relied on quick transitions and individual brilliance. Felix Nmecha's impressive solo run through midfield drew praise, with Lothar Matthäus calling him "the best box-to-box midfielder in the Bundesliga currently".
Dortmund's opening goal came against the run of play in the 41st minute when Argentina youth international Aaron Anselmino headed home a Daniel Svensson free-kick. This marked Anselmino's first shot and first-ever goal in the Bundesliga.
In the second half, Leverkusen continued to control possession, creating several promising opportunities in the first 20 minutes. However, Dortmund's defense and goalkeeper remained resolute. In the 65th minute, Dortmund extended their lead through a well-executed move, with substitute Fabio Silva delivering a precise cross for Karim Adeyemi to head home.
Leverkusen responded by taking defensive risks, and their efforts paid off in the 83rd minute when Christian Kofane scored after a dangerous cross from Maza, reducing the deficit to 2-1. The late goal set up a thrilling final phase of the match, with Leverkusen applying intense pressure. Jonas Hofmann's powerful shot rattled the crossbar, further intensifying the tension. Despite the late pressure, Dortmund managed to hold on for the victory.
Dortmund's coach, Niko Kovac, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating, "It was not easy. After the goal we conceded they put pressure on us". He praised the team's performance, saying, "Today it was a good team performance".
The victory earned Dortmund three crucial points and allowed them to move ahead of Leverkusen in the Bundesliga standings. Dortmund now sit third with 25 points, one point behind second-placed RB Leipzig and two ahead of Leverkusen in fourth. Earlier in the week, Dortmund had a dominant 4-0 victory against Villarreal in the Champions League.
