Werkself come up short in 2-1 loss to Dortmund

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made three changes to the team that had started Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League as captain Robert Andrich, Edmond Tapsoba and Jonas Hofmann came in for Jarell Quansah, Jeanuel Belocian and Kofane.

Behind at the break

After the early stages of the game had been played mainly in midfield, the Werkself had their first real chance of the game when Ernest Poku ran at speed with the ball towards the BVB goal, got past his man but then shot well wide. Shortly afterwards, Patrik Schick missed a through ball from Alejandro Grimaldo just ahead of the onrushing Gregor Kobel. Hofmann fired a low shot wide eight minutes later. The visitors repeatedly pressed high up the pitch, but Hjulmand’s men had the better chances and the majority of possession up to that point and subsequently took more control of the game. However, Dortmund scored with their first real chance when Daniel Svensson sent a long free-kick into the penalty area, where Anselmino rose highest and headed the ball into the goal with the help of the left post.

With no substitutions or changes to the momentum, Bayer 04 resumed where they’d left off in the second half. Malik Tillman had an opportunity when he headed an Aleix Garcia free-kick just wide of goal. Schick's attempt a minute later – also with a header – was saved by Kobel. There was then a dangerous header at the other end as Serhou Guirassy connected with a Julian Ryerson free-kick but put his attempt at a height where Mark Flekken could react from close range.

Adeyemi doubles, Kofane sets up big finish

The next dangerous header did end up in the goal, though, as Fabio Silva, who had come on as a substitute, crossed into the middle to Adeyemi, who powerfully put the ball past Flekken. The Werkself responded to going 2-0 down with their next chance. However, Hofmann could only hit the crossbar. Set up by Felix Nmecha, Julian Brandt then missed the chance to make it 3-0 at the other end, with the former Leverkusen player shooting wide of the right-hand post. Hjulmand brought on Martin Terrier and Claudio Echeverri to breathe new life into the attack in the closing stages. Kofane had already come on earlier and reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the closing stages with a deft touch on an Ibrahim Maza cross. The Black and Reds pushed hard for the equaliser but were unable to find one.

Dortmund Part II to come

Leverkusen are back in action in three days, this time in Dortmund, for their DFB Pokal round of 16 tie against BVB on Tuesday (21:00 CET). The next Bundesliga game is then away at Augsburg on Saturday (15:30).

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Flekken - Andrich (Quansah 88'), Badé, Tapsoba - Poku (Tella 88'), Maza, Garcia, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Tillman - Schick (Kofane 63')

Dortmund: Kobel - Anselmino, Anton, Schlotterbeck - Ryerson (Couto 80'), Nmecha (Bensebaini 90'), Sabitzer (Chukwuemka 90'), Svensson - Adeyemi (Bellingham 80'), Brandt - Guirassy (Silva 61')

Goals: 0-1 Anselmino (41'), 0-2 Adeyemi (65'), 1-2 Kofane (83')

Yellow cards: Tillman, Tapsoba, Garcia - Schlotterbeck, Ryerson, Silva, Couto

Referee: Tobias Welz

Attendance: 30,210 at the BayArena (sold out)