Turbulent Bundesliga restart BVB Friday series breaks - Leverkusen win in Dortmund

Luca Betschart

10.1.2025

Granit Xhaka (center) and Bayer Leverkusen pick up three points in Dortmund.
Granit Xhaka (center) and Bayer Leverkusen pick up three points in Dortmund.
Picture: Keystone

After almost 21 years, Borussia Dortmund is defeated again on a Friday evening in its own stadium. BVB loses 2:3 against Bayer Leverkusen.

In the opening game after the winter break, only 26 seconds had been played when the first goal was scored. Leverkusen's Nathan Tella put the visitors ahead after a defensive error by Dortmund. It was a cold start for coach Nuri Sahin's team, who had to improvise with his line-up due to a flu epidemic. Sahin opted for 21-year-old Yannik Lühers, who was the only trained central defender to make his Bundesliga debut.

The champions consistently exploited the inexperience of their opponents' defense at the start. By the 19th minute, Patrik Schick had scored goals two and three for the superior Leverkusen side, with Jamie Gittens providing a brief sign of life for BVB in between.

After that, nothing happened for a long time before Serhou Guirassy gave the home team renewed hope with a penalty in the 79th minute. However, BVB were unable to do more than tie the scores, leaving goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to congratulate his national team captain Granit Xhaka on the win.

While BVB failed to remain undefeated in a home game for the 40th time in a row on Friday, Leverkusen celebrated their sixth league win in a row. As a result, Bayer reduced the gap on leaders Bayern Munich to one point for the time being.

The live ticker

Borussia Dortmund

Completed
2:3
(1:3)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

  •  
  •  
  • Jamie Gittens - 1:2 (12.)
  •  
  • Serhou Guirassy - 2:3 (79.)
  • (1.) 0:1 - Nathan Tella
  • (8.) 0:2 - Patrik Schick
  •  
  • (19.) 1:3 - Patrik Schick
  •  
  • Liveticker
    New posts
  • Liveticker closed
  • 90.+6.
    End of 2nd half
  • 90.+5.
    Yellow card Borussia Dortmund

    Felix Nmecha

  • 89.
    Substitution in Borussia Dortmund

    Cole Campbell

    Striker

  • 89.
    Substitution out Borussia Dortmund

    Julian Ryerson

    Defender

  • 89.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Exequiel Palacios

    Midfielder

  • 89.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Álex Grimaldo

    Midfielder

  • 88.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Arthur

    Defender

  • 88.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Jeremie Frimpong

    Midfielder

  • 79.
    Goal for Borussia Dortmund, 2:3 through penalties from Serhou Guirassy

    Serhou Guirassy

    Striker

  • 78.
    Substitution in Borussia Dortmund

    Marcel Sabitzer

    Midfielder

  • 78.
    Substitution out Borussia Dortmund

    Almugera Kabar

    Defender

  • 78.
    Substitution in Borussia Dortmund

    Donyell Malen

    Striker

  • 78.
    Substitution out Borussia Dortmund

    Jamie Gittens

    Midfielder

  • 78.
    Substitution in Borussia Dortmund

    Giovanni Reyna

    Midfielder

  • 78.
    Substitution out Borussia Dortmund

    Maximilian Beier

    Striker

  • 78.
    Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Edmond Tapsoba

  • 74.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Martin Terrier

    Striker

  • 74.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Nathan Tella

    Striker

  • 63.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Florian Wirtz

    Midfielder

  • 63.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Patrik Schick

    Striker

  • 63.
    Substitution in Borussia Dortmund

    Julien Duranville

    Striker

  • 63.
    Substitution out Borussia Dortmund

    Karim Adeyemi

    Midfielder

  • 46.
    Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Patrik Schick

  • 46.
    Kick-off 2nd half
  • 45.+3.
    End of 1st half
  • 19.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 1:3 through Patrik Schick (Jeremie Frimpong)

    Patrik Schick

    Striker

    Assist: Jeremie Frimpong

    Midfielder

  • 12.
    Goal for Borussia Dortmund, 1:2 through Jamie Gittens

    Jamie Gittens

    Midfielder

  • 8.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 0:2 through Patrik Schick (Piero Hincapié)

    Patrik Schick

    Striker

    Assist: Piero Hincapié

    Defender

  • 1.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 0:1 through Nathan Tella (Robert Andrich)

    Nathan Tella

    Striker

    Assist: Robert Andrich

    Midfielder

  • 1.
    Start of the match

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