Only three points behind Bayern Munich and Sebastien Haller’s starting XI debut: After the 2-0 win in Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund still have their sights set on top of the table.
Sebastien Haller accepted the congratulations from his team-mates with a satisfied smile, then joined the other Borussia Dortmund players in the celebration of the blissful fans.
After the 2: 0 (1: 0) in Haller’s starting eleven debut at Bayer Leverkusen, BVB is suddenly back in the middle of the race for the championship, the ailing leaders Bayern Munich is only three points ahead.
“We like the win and also that we started the new year with nine points,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic DAZN and praised Haller: “The way he lengthened the balls, kept the defense busy and provided relief, that was really, really good.”
BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl spoke of an “incredibly important” threesome in a “trend-setting game”. BVB “deserved” to win, “we did it really, really well.”
Andrich: “The better team didn’t win”
Karim Adeyemi (33rd) scored Dortmund 1-0 thanks to Haller’s fine cooperation. BVB extended the lead with an own goal from Edmond Tapsoba (53rd). “We played very confidently. We want to win every game,” said Adeyemi after his first Bundesliga goal: “What the others do is secondary.”
For Leverkusen it was the first defeat after five wins in a row. This could have been avoided, said midfielder Robert Andrich: “It wasn’t the better team that won, but the clever ones in many moments.” Jonathan Tah quarreled: “We had enough opportunities and space. Some of them weren’t precise enough.”
After recovering from testicular cancer, Haller was substituted on in the 62nd minute against FC Augsburg (4:3) and FSV Mainz 05 (2:1). Now he replaced Youssoufa Moukoko in the starting XI. In addition, Marco Reus, who was recently ill, was back in the squad, but initially took a seat on the bench and was substituted on in the 85th minute.
BVB keeper Kobel saves against Palacios and Diaby
In the early stages, Leverkusen was more dangerous. BVB keeper Gregor Kobel parried a shot from Exequiel Palacios, and the Swiss was also there against Moussa Diaby (16′).
But Dortmund got stronger after initial difficulties, but benefited from a mistake by Nadiem Amiri with their opening goal. After losing the ball, Haller let a cross pass from Julian Brandt through with a lot of overview – Adeyemi pushed the ball past Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Bayer came into play better after the break. Diaby was denied by Kobel, who was also there to help Amine Adli’s follow-up shot (48′). However, BVB remained more efficient: Tapsoba stumbled a sharp cross from Marius Wolf into his own goal.
Leverkusen didn’t give up, but failed again and again due to Kobel. After Terzic had ended Haller’s solid day’s work in the 61st minute, Brandt tested Hradecky again at the beginning of the final phase.
Bayer Leverkusen – Borussia Dortmund: The voices of the game
Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen manager): “We controlled the first 20 minutes. We had a clear chance through Moussa Diaby. After conceding a goal we had problems until the end of the first half. We tried after that but didn’t have a clear chance. In the end we lost and we have to keep going. The performance wasn’t good, but it wasn’t a disaster either.”
Edin Terzic (Borussia Dortmund coach): “We’re very happy, not only with the result, but also with the performance. It was the intense game that we expected. We took control from the 15th minute and deservedly took the lead. We’re the deserved winners.”
Bayer Leverkusen – Borussia Dortmund: The data for the game
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