Borussia Dortmund got the win they needed to move within one point of the Bundesliga top four, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 and spoiling the occasion of Xabi Alonso’s final home game in charge.
Dortmund were in the bottom half of the table just a few weeks ago, but five wins from their last six games have put them back in the race for Champions League qualification. Beating last season’s champions, however, was never going to be easy. Leverkusen, led by the lively Florian Wirtz, started strongly and forced Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel into several good saves. They finally took the lead just after the 30-minute mark when Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong combined, with Frimpong curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
The whole Leverkusen team ran over to hug Alonso, who is leaving at the end of the season. But Dortmund hit back straight away. Just over a minute later, Pascal Groß played Karim Adeyemi in down the right, and he cleverly set up Julian Brandt to equalise. It was Dortmund’s first real chance, and they soon made it 2-1 when Brandt’s pass found Groß, who teed up Julian Ryerson to smash a low shot into the far corner.
Kobel made more important saves, and Amine Adli hit the bar, keeping Dortmund in front at half-time. Adeyemi nearly made it 3-1 shortly after the restart, but couldn’t quite reach Daniel Svensson’s cross. Alonso brought on striker Patrik Schick to try and change the game, but things got worse for Leverkusen. Adeyemi made it 3-1 with a powerful shot into the top corner after a great pass from Brandt, and then Serhou Guirassy punished a defensive mistake to score Dortmund’s fourth – a goal that makes him joint top-scorer for a debut season at the club.
Leverkusen did get a late goal back when Jonas Hofmann headed in a clever cross from Wirtz, but it was only a consolation. The result leaves Dortmund one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg. Even though they have a much better goal difference, coach Niko Kovač will know they probably need a win against relegated Holstein Kiel next weekend.
Meanwhile, attention at Leverkusen is turning to next season, with Como manager Cesc Fàbregas widely expected to take over when Alonso leaves.
