Borussia lose 1-0 to Bayer in top clash

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reports

The SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was a complete 80645 sell out and the first half was quite even with Leverkusen maybe just edging proceedings. The visitors focussed on defending deep in numbers looking to counter at pace. The only goal of the game was scored by Son on 18 minutes. BVB continued to make heavy weather of a robust Leverkusen approach after the interval. Spahic was shown the red card on 80 minutes for a particularly hard foul whilst he was joined in the early bath by Sokratis who saw his second yellow in time added on.

The Scenario:
Just as the last time they met, this 89th Bundesliga meeting between the clubs marks a match-up of the teams occupying second and third places in the table, so the game of the 15th matchday ! Bayer's 34 points from 14 games is the best-ever start to achieve second place at this stage while BVB's 31 points are the club's third best start ever. A win would have seen BVB leapfrog Bayer to regain second place behind pace-setters Bayern Munich.

Personnel Matters:
Jürgen Klopp had to do without Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer and Gündogan. Mkhitaryan came into the team in one change from the game against Mainz with Piszczek reverting to the bench and Großkreutz taking his place at the back. Bayer arrived missing Sam, Boenisch, Hilbert, Palop and Reinartz.

Tactics:
Leverkusen opted to make space hard to find with ten men behind the ball in a formation that looked a bit like a 2-3-2-2-1 with the full backs alongside the two defensive midfielders. BVB were altogether more attacking opting for a 4-2-3-1 system.

The Game and Analysis:
It was a fast-paced game with neither side shy at attacking (something only made more exciting by a slippery surface caused by a downpour ahead of the kick-off). Leno just managed to thwart Lewandowski after just three minutes but at the other end Leverkusen, too, had a chance to take an early lead when Can saw his shot from twenty yards flew over the bar.

At the other end Sokratis climbed high but saw his header flash wide on 17 minutes.  And so, BVB didn't get the start they wanted but Bayer 04 did, and, benefitting from a mis-placed BVB pass, Can pounced, laid the ball off to Castro who fed Son which allowed the Korean to slip past Weidenfeller to give the visitors the lead on 18 minutes.

Borussia tried hard to get the equaliser before the break but Lewandowski could only direct the ball into Leno's arms from a Großkreutz cross on the half hour. Meanwhile Leverkusen concentrated on swift counter-attacks and just a minute later Son once again appeared in front of Weidenfeller only for the 'keeper to deflect his shot past the post. And so it was 1-0 at half-time which meant that BVB were down at half-time for the first time; Leverkusen, on the other hand, had yet to lose from a one-goal lead.

BVB emerged from the break full of verve but had to wait just ten minutes for their next body-blow when Bender went over on his ankle following a challenge with Hegeler and had to leave the field.  Jürgen Klopp replaced him with Reus, which saw Mkhitaryan drop back to defensive midfield alongside Sahin.

The home side continued to struggle, though. They just could not find a way through and always seemed in danger of conceding a second. Gradually the game descended into a tactical and niggly, stop-start game. The Black n Yellows had much possession but were not really in control, and then Sahin, too, had to leave the field injured with Piszczek replacing him on 82 minutes.

Not long after Leverkusen's robust style drew its due reward when, after a poor tackle on Lewandowski, Spahic and Mkhitaryan wrangled. Spahic caught the Armenian in the face and duly saw a justified red card with ten minutes of regular time remaining.

Now with a man advantage, Borussia attacked with a vengeance, Lewandowski thwarted by Leno on 87 minutes before it all went a bit silly. Sokratis, outraged at the award of a throw-in, hurled the ball down in disgust giving referee Meyer little option but to show him a second yellow. There was still time thereafter for Reus to be denied by another fine Leno save in time added on.

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 15
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-1 (0-1)

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Großkreutz, Sokratis, Friedrich, Durm – Sahin, S. Bender – Blaszczykowski , Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang – Lewandowski
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno - Donati, Toprak, Spahic, Can - L. Bender, Rolfes, Castro – Hegeler, Kießling, Son
Substitutions: 63. Reus for S. Bender, 67. Hofmann for Blaszczykowski, 82. Piszczek for Bender - 78. Kruse for Hegeler, 82. Wollscheid for Son, 89. Kohr for Castro
Goal: 0-1 Son (18., Castro)
Corners: 3-4 (HT 1-2), Chances: 3-3 (1-3)
Referee: Meyer (Burgdorf), Red cards: Spahic (80th min), Sokratis (92nd min), Yellow cards: Hegeler, Can, Castro, Wollscheid
Attendance: 80,645 (sold out), Weather: rainy, 3 degrees

Prospects:
This coming Wednesday BVB visit Marseille in a crucial game (kick-off: 2045 CET) as they strive to make it to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Next Saturday they face a trip to 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga (kick-off: 1530 CET).