• Thursday, 05 December 2024

Leverkusen win late, Bayern home record against Dortmund shattered

Leverkusen win late, Bayern home record against Dortmund shattered

Berlin, 31 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Leaders Bayer Leverkusen claimed a late 2-1 comeback win against Hoffenheim on Saturday, while Bayern Munich lost a Bundesliga home match to Borussia Dortmund for the first time since 2014 as they were defeated 2-0 at the Allianz Arena.

With the results, Leverkusen got one step closer to the title as they now sit 13 points ahead of second-placed Bayern.

"It's completely frustrating, completely inexplicable. Independently of situation in the table, this shouldn't happen," Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich told broadcasters Sky.

Karim Adeyemi scored Dortmund's opener in the 10th minute and Julian Ryerson put the game to bed in the 83rd.

Bayern started the season aiming to secure a record-extending 12th consecutive title, but could end the weekend just one point ahead of third-placed VfB Stuttgart, who welcome Heidenheim on Sunday.

"In the end, it's only three points, but of course it's not easy in Munich and it's been 10 years. It's definitely a good feeling," Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl told Sky.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, are unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season.

Maximilian Beier put Hoffenhiem ahead in the 33rd minute and his goal looked set to be the winner, especially with goalkeeper Oliver Baumann having a stunning performance to deny Leverkusen several times.

But the league leaders didn't give up hopes and first found the equalizer with Robert Andrich in the 88th minute, before taking all three points thanks to Patrik Schick's stoppage-time winner.

"I have no words. We believed in it until the end. It's something incredible. Unbelievable," Schick said.

Elsewhere, Freiburg routed Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0, VfL Wolfsburg defeated Werder Bremen 2-0, while RB Leipzig v Mainz and Eintracht Frankfurt v Union Berlin both ended in a goalless draw.

Hoffenheim broke the deadlock after Beier played a one-two with Wout Weghorst, received the ball back inside the box and put it between the legs of keeper Lukas Hradecky and into the net.

Xhaka curled a cross from the left to force Baumann into a good save in the 42nd, while Jonas Hofmann had a shot from inside the box saved.

Wirtz kicked off business in the second half with a superb move to get into the box before having his shot tipped wide by Baumann at the near post.

Schick and Amine Adli were both denied from close range within the space of a second as Baumann pulled off a stunning double save.

But there was nothing the keeper could do to keep Andrich's half volley out of his net in the 88th and was left even more frustrated when Schick smashed the winner past his reach in stoppage time to give Leverkusen another late win.

The victory caps a great week for Leverkusen, who on Friday announced that coach Xabi Alonso will stay at the club next season.

"Today was tough. It was an intense game, the first half we had problems to control the game in phases. We spoke at half time that it was important to change the mindset. I’m proud of the team," Alonso said.

Bayern created the first early chances, but Dortmund were the ones to hit the net in the 10th.

A mistake by Bayern in midfield led to a Dortmund counter-attack, finished off by Adeyemi. Stand-in goalkeeper Sven Ulreich touched the ball, but couldn't stop Adeyemi's effort from falling into the net.

Bayern saw a completely unmarked Harry Kane head the ball over the crossbar in the 23rd, while Eric Dier's header from point-blank range was blocked on the line in the 35th.

Dortmund had the better start in the second half and forced Ulreich to make a brilliant save to deny Felix Nmecha from close range in the 52nd. The keeper made another strong save, this time to stop Mats Hummels' strike from just outside the box.

Hummels made a crucial clearance in the 68th, stopping the ball from reaching Kane, who was unmarked in front of an open goal.

Bayern seemed close to the equalizer and Alexander Meyer needed a fine one-handed save to save Kingsley Coman's shot in the 75th, but Dortmund avoided late pressure as Ryerson had plenty of space to pick his spot and fire the ball past Ulreich in the 83rd.

Kane thought he pulled one back in the 89th, but his goal from Noussair Mazraoui's cross was ruled out for offside.

"It took us too long," Terzic said when asked by Sky reporters about his thoughts immediately after the final whistle. "But we're extremely happy with our performance today."

Photo: EPA