Bayer 04 beat Dortmund in 4-3 thriller

"That was a great game," said Jonathan Tah in summing up a black and red football gala performance. "You play football for wins like that. It was an outstanding performance by the whole team and we showed incredible mentality. It’s simply a brilliant feeling." Double goalscorer Kevin Volland talked about a "mad game of football – not just for the spectators but also for us on the pitch. It involved a lot of emotion."

Before the game, the Werkself coach Peter Bosz had problems in central midfield. It was already clear Charles Aránguiz would not be fit and also Kerem Demirbay was missing due to being sent off in Sinsheim. The match against Borussia Dortmund also came too soon for Julian Baumgartlinger – and, to top it all, Bayer 04 had to manage without new signing Exequiel Palacios after he picked up a knock against Stuttgart.

Peter Bosz had to show his ability in terms of improvisation. The Dutchman changed the system to a 3-4-2-1 formation putting Lars Bender and Nadiem Amiri in the two central midfield positions ahead of a back three. In contrast to the Stuttgart game, Jonathan Tah lined up next to Edmond Tapsoba with the new signing from Guimaraes making his first start. Aleksandar Dragovic and Mitchell Weiser dropped to the bench and Kevin Volland was preferred up front in place of Lucas Alario.

Volland converts perfect pass from Amiri – Hummels hits back

In the opening stages of the game, the Werkself had to deal with an incredibly aggressive BVB who lined up with the two new signings Erling Haaland and Emre Can (former Bayer 04 player) in the starting eleven. The start of the game was fast and full of challenges with the Werkself defending against several promising attacks by Dortmund. The first chance for BVB came on 19 minutes but Lukas Hradecky was fully alert and able to save from Haaland when he broke through.

The Werkself took the lead almost immediately after that: Bayer 04 reacted quickly to a goal kick and Nadiem Amiri succeeded in playing a brilliant diagonal ball to the feet of Kevin Volland. The Werkself striker shook off Manuel Akanji in a foot race and he slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-0 on 20 minutes. It did not take long for Borussia to provide a reply: Lukas Hradecky had to turn away a low drive from Julian Brandt for a corner. From the ensuing set piece, Mats Hummels met the ball perfectly to put an unstoppable header into the far corner, a swift reply (22').

Brilliant strike from Can – Dortmund take lead

Shortly after that, the ball was in the net for a third time but the strike from Moussa Diaby was correctly chalked off for being offside. The game turned into an entertaining and open Bundesliga match and Bayer 04 had the next chance to take the lead through Diaby but Roman Bürki was able to make a comfortable save (29'). In the middle of an impressive phase, the Werkself were hit by touch of genius: BVB new signing Can set himself up outside the box and fired the ball into the top right corner from around 30 yards out. Hradecky stood no chance. An absolute wonder goal – great for every neutral to enjoy but a blow for the Werkself (33').

Volland bags brace

On the back of the lead, Dortmund looked stronger with an Axel Witsel volley from a Jadon Sancho cross flying over the Werkself net (41'). Bayer 04 remained in the game and they proved much more efficient in front of the opposition goal compared with the previous week: A quickly taken corner was followed by an Nadiem Amiri cross to the far post where Tah succeeded in keeping the ball in before laying it back into the centre. That set up Kevin Volland – and the Werkself striker again proved to be clinical and his slightly deflected shot was in the back of the net to make it 2-2 (43') just before half-time.

Sancho goal ruled out

Peter Bosz made a change on the right at half-time with Karim Bellarabi replacing Mitchell Weiser. His opposite number Lucien Favre made one change with the former Leverkusen player Julian Brandt replaced by 17-year-old Giovanni Reyna, son of the former Werkself player Claudio Reyna.

The young American was the centre of attention in the first explosive move of the second half. After a fast Dortmund attack, Sancho appeared to have made it 3-2 but VAR intervened – and the images showed: Reyna pulled down Lars Bender in the build-up and referee Markus Schmidt correctly ruled out the goal (52'). Reyna remained one of the key players after the restart with a deflected shot from the youngster turned round the post thanks to a fingertip save by Lukas Hradecky (58').

Havertz hits the Post - and Guerreiro finds back of the net

The Werkself needed nearly 15 minutes to get going in the second half: Havertz just failed to connect with a cross from Volland on the hour mark. It was even closer a few minutes later. A great transition from the Werkself saw Volland but a diagonal ball through to Havertz who was able to break through to a one-on-one with Bürki. But the 20-year-old only managed to hit the ball against the left-hand upright. Bayer 04 just inches away from taking the lead (64').

This missed chance was soon punished – instead of Bayer 04 going ahead, it was Dortmund who struck a minute later. BVB mounted a swift counter-attack and revealed their great attacking prowess. Via Haaland, Sancho and Hakimi the ball came to Guerreiro on the left side of the penalty area and he hit his shot into the far corner of the net to make it 3-2 on 65 minutes.

Werkself turn the game round with a double whammy

Peter Bosz reacted to going behind by bringing on Leon Bailey in place of Diaby (71'). The Jamaican put the ball in the back of the Dortmund net shortly after coming on but his strike was ruled out because Volland was offside before he made the assist (72'). Bosz changed to a 4-3-3 formation and the Werkself were back in the game as they pushed the title contenders back into their own penalty area – and that was rewarded with the leveller at 3-3: Havertz put Volland through but he was put off shooting by a sliding tackle from Can. The ball ran to the feet of the unmarked Bailey and the substitute calmly slotted the ball past Bürki (81').

There was more to come. Emboldened by the equaliser, the Werkself continue to press forward – and they sent the BayArena crazy seconds later. Bailey took the ball down the left flank and back heeled it to Daley Sinkgraven. The left back crossed first time and he found Lars Bender. The captain rose highest in the melee to score with a perfect header going Internet of the inside of the right-hand post. 4-3 on 82 minutes. The goalscorer was swamped by his team-mates and the North Stand was rocking. What an incredible football match!

Football fest in Black and Red

The game was not yet over but Bayer 04 held onto the lead in the closing stages with Dortmund only having a chance from a header by Witsel on 90 minutes. The newly formed back four defended brilliantly and new signing Edmond Tapsoba contributed with some brilliant challenges and good positional play. Bayer 04 are the first team since the winter break to prevent the Dortmund striker Haaland scoring. When referee Mark Schmidt blew for full-time after five minutes added on it was the end of a memorable night of football from a black and red perspective – and there was a party atmosphere at the BayArena.

The Werkself are now be looking to build on this victory. Bayer 04 are away to the impressive newcomers Union Berlin next Saturday (15 February, kick-off: 15.30 CET).

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Tah, S. Bender, Tapsoba - Bellarabi (Weiser 46’), Amiri (Dragovic 86’), L. Bender, Sinkgraven - Havertz, Diaby (Bailey 71’) - Volland

Borussia Dortmund: Bürki - Akanji (Hazard 87’), Hummels, Zagadou - Hakimi, Witsel, Can (Götze 87’), Guerreiro - Brandt (Reyna 46’), Sancho - Haaland

Goals: 1-0 Volland (20’), 1-1 Hummels (22’), 1-2 Can (33’), 2-2 Volland (43’), 2-3 Guerreiro (65’), 3-3 Bailey (81’), 4-3 L. Bender (82’)

Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)

Booked: L. Bender, Volland - Guerreiro

Attendance: 30,210 (sell-out)