Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Borussia Dortmund: Visitors narrow gap on leaders Bayern Munich to three points

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Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Borussia Dortmund: Sebastian Haller makes his starting debut after battling cancer and his dummy prepares Karim Adeyemi for the opener as the visitors cut the gap to leaders Bayern Munich to three points

  • Adeyemi scored the first goal after Haller’s dummy in the 33rd minute
  • Leverkusen defender Tapsoba deflected the ball into his own goal in the 53rd minute

Sebastian Haller made his first start for Borussia Dortmund since returning to the team after battling testicular cancer in Sunday’s victory.

The 28-year-old Ivory Coast striker set up Karim Adeyemi for the opener with a superb dummy on 33′.

An own goal in the 53rd minute sealed a hard-fought win that moved the visitors within three points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Karim Adeyemi scored the first goal behind Sebastian Haller's dummy in the 33rd minute

Karim Adeyemi scored the first goal behind Sebastian Haller’s dummy in the 33rd minute

MATCH FACTS

LEVERKUSEN: HRADECKYE, TAPSOBA, HINCAPIE, FRIMPONG, TAH (63′ BAKKER), AMIRI (80′ DEMIRBAY), PALACIOS (70′ BELLARABI), ANDRICH, DIABY, ADLI (80′ AZMOUN), WIRTZ (70′ HLOZEK)

DORTMUND: KOBEL, WOLF (85′ M. HUMMELS), SULE, RYERSON, SCHLOTTERBECK, BRANDT (85′ REUS), BELLINGHAM, CAN, ADEYEMI, (72′ BYNOE-GITTENS), OZCAN

GOALS: ADEYEMI 33, TAPSOBA OG 53

Dortmund’s comfortable win snapped Leverkusen’s five-match winning streak in the Bundesliga, dropping them to ninth place.

German international Adeyemi scored his first Bundesliga goal after some fine Dortmund passing play in the 33rd minute with Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby having earlier forced an excellent save from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

The goalkeeper had to come to the rescue again three minutes after the restart, stopping both Diaby and Amine Adli in Leverkusen’s double chance to equalize.

The visitors, who play Chelsea on February 15 in the Champions League round of 16, then doubled their lead in the 53rd minute when defender Edmond Tapsoba turned a Marius Wolf cutback into his own goal.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba deflected the ball into his own net in the 53rd minute.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba deflected the ball into his own net in the 53rd minute.

The Burkina Faso central defender had a night to forget after nearly scoring a second own goal in the 72nd.

He attempted to clear another cut, this time from Julian Brandt, but instead stabbed him towards goal before Jeremie Frimpong came to the rescue and cleared the line.

Dortmund’s third win in a row moved them to fourth with 34 points, three behind leaders Bayern Munich and one behind third-placed RB Leipzig. Leverkusen is 24th in ninth place.

Sebastian Haller made his first start for Borussia Dortmund since battling testicular cancer.

Sebastian Haller made his first start for Borussia Dortmund since battling testicular cancer.