Dortmund Stun Leverkusen in Thrilling BayArena Comeback

Borussia Dortmund delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at the BayArena, moving within touching distance of their third-placed hosts in the Bundesliga table. The victory lifted Dortmund to 25 points, just one behind Leverkusen's 26, in a result that could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification. Despite controlling 63% of possession and registering 14 shots to Dortmund's seven, the home side paid the price for wasteful finishing in a pulsating encounter.

The visitors struck first against the run of play in the 41st minute when Aaron Anselmino rose majestically to meet Daniel Svensson's pinpoint cross following a set piece, powering his header into the bottom left corner past Mark Flekken. Dortmund doubled their advantage midway through the second half as Karim Adeyemi ghosted between defenders to nod home Fábio Silva's teasing delivery from the right flank in the 65th minute. The German winger's perfectly timed run and clinical finish left the BayArena stunned. Christian Kofane ignited hope for the hosts seven minutes from time, sweeping Ibrahim Maza's cross into the bottom right corner to set up a grandstand finish.

The tactical battle centered around Leverkusen's relentless pressure against Dortmund's disciplined defensive structure. Robert Andrich and Aleix García dominated the midfield exchanges for the hosts, while Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton stood firm at the heart of Dortmund's backline. Gregor Kobel proved the difference between the sides, producing crucial saves to deny Patrik Schick and Loïc Badé when the game hung in the balance.

Leverkusen's statistical dominance told only half the story of their frustration. Jonas Hofmann struck the crossbar in the 71st minute during a sustained period of pressure, while Ernest Poku and Ibrahim Maza saw efforts blocked as Dortmund bodies threw themselves into the path of danger. The hosts earned 10 corners to Dortmund's three but failed to capitalize on their aerial superiority, with Malik Tillman heading narrowly wide from a promising position in the 55th minute.

The turning point arrived with Dortmund's second goal, as Nuri Şahin's tactical substitution of Fábio Silva for Serhou Guirassy provided the fresh impetus needed. Silva's immediate impact, creating Adeyemi's header within four minutes of his introduction, demonstrated the Portuguese forward's ability to change games from the bench.

Leverkusen will look to bounce back when they face their next opponents, while Dortmund aim to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixture. Both sides remain firmly in contention for European places, with this result adding another twist to an increasingly competitive Bundesliga campaign.