Borussia Dortmund resumed their Bundesliga campaign with a draw at third-placed Bayer Leverkusen. At the end of a hard-fought game there was not the hoped-for three points but the 0-0 was still a vital away point.

A sold-out BayArena (30,210) saw the hosts have the two best chances, both falling to Castro on 39 and 75 minutes respectively. BVB had one big chance to take the lead on 50 minutes through Immobile but the effort went wide from a narrow angle. It was an intensive game lacking any real footballing quality in which Bayer enjoyed more possession (58%) while BVB won more tackles (58%) but in the end the draw was probably the fair result.

Felix Ulrich reporting

The Scenario:

In the first half of the season Leverkusen had reached a total of ‘just’ 28 points; considerably less than at the same stage last season (37), but those points were enough to have them lying third in the table. Bayer are a force at home having not been beaten in their last 13 home games. BVB, on the other hand, had won just one of their last six games and had won just four points on the road so far this season which placed them seventeenth in the table. Following Freiburg’s win earlier in the day, they were actually last in the table as the game kicked off.

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Sokratis and Kießling in an aerial duel

Personnel Matters:

The game came too soon for Gündogan and so BVB had to do without their midfield strategist for the visit to Leverkusen. With Kehl (shoulder) and Bender (not match fit yet) also missing Ginter lined up alongside Sahin in the holding midfield roles. Ahead of them Immobile was the lone striker with three players BVB through and through arranged behind him in the shape of Reus, Großkreutz and newcomer Kampl. Blaszczykowski (virus), Langerak (Asian Cup) and Durm (not match fit) were also out and so Aubameyang and Kagawa were in the squad having both returned from International duty. Bayer were without the services of Jedvaj (injured), Son and Kruse both on Asian Cup duty.

Tactics:

Jürgen Klopp sent his team out in the regular 4-2-3-1 formation. Kampl, Reus and Grosskreutz constantly switched positions behind Immobile whilst Roger Schmidt sent the home side out in a 4-2-2-2 system that had Drmic up front with Kießling and Bellarabi and Calhanoglu supporting in behind. After the break Bayer switched things around introducing Brandt for Drmic (69 mins) to set them up in a 4-2-3-1 also.

The Game and Analysis:

In Dortmund it had taken Bellarabi and Leverkusen just nine seconds to open the scoring. Happily BVB were not so generous this time but the home side applied considerable pressure in the opening phase when first Hummels was challenged when last man necessitating Weidenfeller to clear his lines desperately. A minute later, just two minutes in, Hilbert let fly from distance to ensure BVB knew they were in for a tough one.

After five minutes BVB finally broke into the game themselves and so the teams pretty much cancelled eachother out for the remainder of the first half, both sides closing down space in midfield forcing possession to change hands regularly. The game had little flow to it and was rather more defined by a series of robust challenges than goalmouth action.

Hummels clears with a diving header 

If ever there was any real threat then it came from the hosts. Just after the half-hour mark Weidenfeller parried a Clahanoglu free-kick then seven minutes later Hummels was forced to dig out his beaten ‘keeper with a diving clearing header from Castro’s shot after fine work by Bellarabi.

BVB coach Jürgen Klopp was forced to make changes in the second half as Piszczek had to come off with a thigh strain, Subotic replacing him. This meant Sokratis moving to right back allowing Hummels and Subotic to resume their central partnership.

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Ginter wins possession from Bellarabi

Having been anything but a force going forward in the first half, relying mostly on Kampl down the right and long balls, the Black n Yellows suddenly fashioned a real chance to take the lead on the hour mark when Immobile forcing a fine save from Leno in the home goal. It remained a game with precious few highlights.

BVB: Misplaced passes but good in the tackle

Thereafter the midfield stalemate resumed with BVB pass completion rate dipping to as low as 45%. Mkhitaryan, having come on for Großkreutz just after the hour, wasn’t able to change too much in terms of pass completion but at least now BVB were ahead in the won tackles count (58%). In addition, the individual errors that had blighted the first half of the season were happily absent from the team today.

However the Black n Yellows almost conceded on 75 minutes when Castro capitalised on hesitation by Sokratis and Kampl and sent a lob up and over Weidenfeller from the edge of the box but also over the bar. With nine minutes remaining Klopp sent on Ramos for Immobile to freshen up the attack but there were no further chances. The draw meant that BVB, on 16 points, remained the bottom-placed team in the Bundesliga.

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 18
BAYER LEVERKUSEN – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 0-0 (0-0)

Bayer Leverkusen: Leno - Hilbert, Spahic, Toprak, Wendell - L. Bender, Castro - Bellarabi, Calhanoglu, Drmic – Kießling
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer - Ginter, Sahin - Kampl, Reus, Großkreutz - Immobile
Substitutions: 69. Brandt for Drmic, 74. Rolfes for Calhanoglu - 46. Subotic for Piszczek, 62. Mkhitaryan for Großkreutz,
Goals: -
Corners: 3-4 (HT 2-1), Chances: 2-2 (1-:0)
Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg), Yellow cards: Drmic - Schmelzer, Kampl
Attendance: 30,210 (sold out), Weather: cloudy, 3 degrees Celsius

Prospects:

This coming Wednesday BVB entertain FC Augsburg at the Signal Iduna Park (kick-off 2000 CET). Next weekend Borussia visit SC Freiburg (1530 CET) in a bottom-of-the-table clash.