Leverkusen started the year in stunning fashion, striking thrice in a frenzied opening 19 minutes against a makeshift Dortmund side battling flu and injuries.
The hosts, suffering their first home loss this season, were dealt a blow before kick-off with a host of defenders ruled out, forcing a last-minute backline shuffle.
Leverkusen exploited this instantly, winning possession and breaking quickly, with Nathan Tella scoring after just 25 seconds.
Dortmund were left reeling as Leverkusen struck again in the eighth minute, with striker Schick sliding in to finish a clinical counter.
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| Soccer Football – Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen – The hosts briefly rallied, pulling one back through Jamie Gittens, only for Schick to restore Leverkusen’s two-goal lead with a fine finish, capping off another swift break. Reuters |
The Czech international, in red-hot form, added to his four-goal haul from the previous game, taking his league tally to 11 for the season.
Dortmund, despite their efforts, struggled to create chances in the second half but were thrown a lifeline when Serhou Guirassy converted a late penalty.
However, Leverkusen held firm, thanks to solid defending by Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie, to secure a valuable three points, moving them up to 35 points, just one behind leaders Bayern.
Dortmund, meanwhile, remain stationary in sixth place with 25 points after suffering this unexpected defeat.
Vietnam on the Road to Glory: En Route to the ASEAN Championship Final After Triumph Over Singapore
Vietnam secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Singapore in the first leg of their 2024 ASEAN Championship semifinal on Thursday night, putting them firmly in the driver’s seat for a place in the final.
Vietnam’s 11 Goals from the ASEAN Championship: A Group Stage Highlight Reel
Vietnam stormed through the group stage of the 2024 ASEAN Championship, topping Group B with an impressive 10 points and an even more impressive 11 goals across four fixtures.
