Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen
BVB passed a big test today with a hard-fought victory over an excellent Bayer Leverkusen side to go three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Former Dortmund coach Peter Bosz can be proud of his players after they came back to equalise once and then pegged the hosts back again in the second half. But a superb performance from Jadon Sancho won the game, scoring one and making an assist as he tormented the Bayer backline all afternoon.
Lucien Favre’s team has been under pressure after a series of draws, with FC Bayern breathing down their necks so this was a huge win which means the Bundesliga 2019 betting odds still can’t pick a winner. And now the passionate fans of Dortmund will hope their side can gather some momentum again.
Highlights of the game
It was an even opening half hour with both sides testing each others’ defences and looking confident on the ball. Julian Brandt was industrious for the visitors and he did well to provide an opening for Sven Bender but his shot was blocked. And Kai Havertz came close with a shot from outside the box.
We said this was a must-win game for BVB, and their fans were looking for their English prodigy Jadon Sancho to weave some magic. He was soon in the action cleverly heading down for Julian Weigl but his effort was charged down by the well organised Bayer defence. Sancho had a chance of his own, taking a pass from Mario Gotze but his low shot was well saved in the corner. But he was the man who provided the opening goal, crossing for Dan-Axel Zagadou who poked home from close range to send the Yellow Wall wild.
But the lead only lasted seven minutes and it was Bayer’s in-form strikers who linked up to equalise. Havertz passed to Kevin Volland just outside the penalty area and he shot low and true into the bottom right corner.
The home crowd was briefly silent…briefly. Just one minute later Abdou Diallo sent a dangerous cross into the Leverkusen box and Sancho was there to fire into the bottom left corner.
Bayer came out brightly at the start of the second half without really coming close and then the Yellow Wall erupted again on the hour when Mario Gotze fired a beauty from outside the box into the bottom corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Leverkusen wasn’t finished though and when BVB’s Raphael Guerreiro fouled Havertz in a dangerous position Brandt lined up a free-kick and delivered a beauty onto the head of Jonathan Tah who nodded it into the net to set up a nervy final 15 minutes.
Brandt almost sprung the offside trap when Havertz put him through and the visitors had a flurry of late corners but the hosts held out for a priceless three points after a very tense six added minutes.
The Yellow Wall sighed with relief and then raised the roof once again.
Key Statistics
When the earlier Bundesliga 2019 results arrived in Dortmund it was Bayern’s narrow win over Hertha Berlin which struck a chord and meant the Bavarians had drawn level. But BVB stayed calm under the pressure and delivered for their fans.
Leverkusen came into the game in fine form, with four wins conceding three goals in five games so this was a tough test for BVB which they passed well. And it ends a run of three consecutive draws for the hosts.
And that means Dortmund has inched ahead in the head to heads with a 20th victory over Bayer since 1992 while the visitors are on 19.
What’s next?
BVB is away to FC Augsburg next week where their opponents will be equally desperate for points, sitting just above the drop zone after three consecutive defeats. And then it’s back to Champions League action when Favre’s team will try to overturn a three-goal deficit against Spurs. Asian handicap betting is the way to play that game so make sure you take a look at the SBOBET odds over the next week.
Dortmund needs an early goal in that one and then the passionate home fans can get into the game. Who knows?
Leverkusen is at home to SC Freiburg next, their visitors are unbeaten in four and sitting in 13th place. Bayer is still in the Euro hunt, sitting in seventh and a single point behind sixth, and only five adrift of a Champions League spot.
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