After several energy-sapping weeks in September, Borussia Dortmund were beaten on Matchday 6 of the Bundesliga campaign as Bayer Leverkusen ran out 2-0 (1-0) winners.

The Black and Yellows controlled the match in front of 30,210 spectators at a sold-out BayArena but were unable to make their superiority count. Instead it was Mehmedi who opened the scoring for Leverkusen with a header from a corner after ten minutes, the goal coming after a rather questionable push on Weigl in the build-up went unpunished. BVB spent the rest of the encounter trying to find a way back into the game, without ever really creating a gilt-edged chance against a Leverkusen side that defended with intelligence. In the closing stages Chicharito then doubled the hosts' lead following a quick counter-attack (79).

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting from Leverkusen

The scenario:
Thomas Doll was the coach the last time Borussia Dortmund were beaten by Leverkusen at the BayArena. On that day, 19 May 2007, the Black and Yellows were still playing for a place in the Intertoto Cup. Stefan Kießling and Simon Rolfes scored for Bayer, with Ebi Smolarek on target for Borussia. Since then there have been four away wins and five draws for BVB in Leverkusen. "It's going to be another difficult test for us at the end of an intense period," said Thomas Tuchel before the match. Nevertheless he demanded his team show "hunger" and "have the desire to expend all its energy".

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Chicharito and Weigl engage in an aerial battle.

Personnel matters:
Bartra (adductor complaints), Bender (ankle injury), Durm (knee operation), Ramos (adductor complaints), Reus (osteitis pubis), Schürrle (strained medial collateral ligament) and Subotic (fitness training after chest operation) did not make the journey to the Rhine. Thomas Tuchel made two changes to the team that faced Real Madrid in the Champions League, bringing in Pulisic and Rode for Schmelzer und Götze. Leverkusen were without Bellarabi (operation after tendon injury), Pohjanpalo (broken metatarsal) and Yurchenko (broken fibula).

Tactics:
Thomas Tuchel lined up his troops in an attacking 3-2-2-3 formation, with Piszczek, Sokratis and Ginter forming the defensive trio, which became a quartet when Bayer had possession with Guerreiro dropping back. Up top BVB had Dembélé and Pulisic on the flanks, while Aubameyang spearheaded the attack. After around 15 minutes Borussia changed things up and reverted to the 4-1-4-1 formation they have employed this season. When in possession, Leverkusen operated in a classic 4-2-3-1 system; without the ball, the Werkself switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

The match & analysis:
The hosts made a very committed start and sought right from the very beginning to keep BVB's defence busy by launching lightning-quick counter-attacks. After just three minutes a Calhanoglu free-kick flew narrowly wide of the left post, before Chicharito's free header was parried away for the first corner of the game by Bürki shortly afterwards. The ensuing corner sailed high towards the six-year box, where Weigl was shoved by Mehmedi and slipped over. However, Manuel Gräfe did not whistle for a foul, allowing an unchallenged Mehmedi to send an unstoppable header into the top left corner (10).

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Mehmedi scores from a header to give Leverkusen an early lead.

After conceding the opener Borussia continued to struggle to find a footing in the match, creating little despite having 70 percent possession – in part because Leverkusen pressured them early, preventing proper build-up play and forcing the BVB players into misplaced passes. After 20 minutes Piszczek threaded through to Aubameyang, who failed to beat Leno. At the other end Kampl fizzed a shot from 18 metres narrowly wide of the top right corner (32). Shortly before the interval both Dembélé (45) and Guerreiro (45+1) failed from distance.

BVB running out of time...

After the interval the match initially continued in a similar vein: Borussia Dortmund dictated the play but could only find the gaps in the Bayer 04 rearguard on rare occasions. The hosts, on the other hand, continued to rely on counter-attacks – and posed a threat for the first time five minutes into the second period, though Bürki comfortably saved Kampl's effort from 20 metres out (50). Almost directly afterwards Aubameyang had a shot from a centre-left position that was blocked by Toprak. Then substitute Schmelzer fed the ball into the area to Rode, who opted not to shoot in a bid to let the ball run through to Aubameyang. Tah thwarted the danger in time (60).

...and Chicharito seals the victory

The Black and Yellows continued to dominate as the match wore on and sometimes had ten men camped around the Leverkusen penalty area, but time appeared to be running out for them. Thomas Tuchel brought new attacking power into the game in the shape of Mor and Kagawa, but Borussia always seemed to be let down by the final ball or cross, which Leverkusen's solid defensive unit was able to block. Leno also played his part in preventing an equaliser, making excellent saves from Mor (65) and Aubameyang (73).

At the other end custodian Bürki initially denied Chicharito to keep BVB in the game (73), but a short while later the men from the Rhineland coolly finished off a counter via Calhanoglu on the left flank, Chicharito latching onto his cross in the centre to seal the points for Bayer (79). With minutes remaining on the clock Tah stopped Aubameyang from pulling one back for BVB (85). Volland could have even made it 3-0 to Leverkusen but was unable to beat Bürki (8).

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Prospects:
After eight matches in five weeks Borussia Dortmund now face a 13-day international break. They will continue their Bundesliga campaign on Friday 14 October (20:30 CET), when they play host to Hertha BSC.

Teams & goals