Buyer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen’s forward, Schick securing a brace in the first-half for their 2025 first game against Borrusia Dortmund. Image credit: Bayer Leverkusen shared via X
(The Post News)- Buyer Leverkusen defeated flu-stricken Borrusia Dortmund 3-2 on Friday thanks to a brace from Patrik Schick in the first half. reducing the difference to one point against Bundesliga leaders Buyern Munich.
Dortmund’s defense was already beset by an injury issue, and only hours before kickoff, when the Bundesliga resumed play after the winter break, center-backs Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck as well as left-back Ramy Bensebaini were ruled out due to illness.
With Nathan Tella scoring after only 25 seconds and Patrik Schick adding another on the eight-minute mark, the reigning champions quickly exploited Dortmund’s inexperienced defense. After a goal by English winger Jamie Gittens, Schick gave Leverkusen a two-goal lead again.
Leverkusen hung on for their eighth consecutive victory across all competitions, putting more pressure on Bayern, who visit Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, despite a late penalty from Serhou Guirassy giving Dortmund hope. Granit Xhaka of Leverkusen told DAZN publication that he will be honest, they’re not looking at Bayern, they are focused on themselves and they are on the right track.
Florian Wirtz, a prolific midfielder for Leverkusen, was benched by coach Xabi Alonso because of a internal issue. With the absence of three first choice center backs and wing backs Pascal Gross and Bensebaini, Dortmund’s issues were less ambiguous. Almost instantly, Dortmund’s improvised defense which included youthful players Yannik Luehrs and Almugera Kabar was exposed.
After Leverkusen forced the apprehensive hosts into a mistake while playing out from the back, Nigerian winger Tella, who was born in England, scored a spectacular goal into the top corner. After Piero Hincapie’s low cross was tapped in by Schick, the visitors swiftly doubled their lead.
Four minutes after Robert Andrich accidentally pushed the ball into Gittens’s path, Gittens scored to pull Dortmund back into the game. But at the 19-minute mark, Schick scored his second goal and Leverkusen’s third, this time by diving in a cross from the right.
“Despite the defense situation we are in, I expect my lads to defend better than that,” said Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin in a post match interview. Despite being Victor Boniface’s backup at the beginning of the season, Schick has now scored 11 goals in his last six league appearances.
Schick said he work really hard at his job every day and he was ready. He further said that he want to give the max for the team and he is happy he could help out with a couple of goals.
With eleven minutes remaining, Leverkusen was awarded a penalty by VAR. Guirassy’s weak penalty effort offered the home team a chance to steal an unexpected draw, but Leverkusen held firm. Dortmund, the Champions League finalists from the previous season, may finish the weekend in as low as 10th position after winning only one of their last five Bundesliga games.
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