German Football League champion Bayer Leverkusen defeated its host Borussia Dortmund with two goals scored by Patrik Schick on Friday, putting it one point away from leaders Bayern Munich with its sixth consecutive victory in the league.
In a frenetic start, the visitors scored three goals in the first 19 minutes, as they enjoyed a perfect start to the year as the league resumed after a three-week winter break.
Dortmund, who twice pulled one back, fielded a largely makeshift squad due to flu and injuries in their first home defeat of the season.
A last-minute backline had to be put together after defenders Waldemar Anton, Emre Can, Ramy Bensebaini and Niko Schlotterbeek were ruled out, as well as the long-term injured Niklas Süle.
This was evident immediately as Leverkusen gained possession of the ball after high pressure and Nathan Tella completed the attack to give the visitors the lead after 25 seconds.
Dortmund did not have enough time to regroup, as Leverkusen scored again in the eighth minute, and striker Cech slid in to complete a typical counterattack.
The home side briefly recovered and pulled one back through Jamie Gittens four minutes later but Cech restored Leverkusen’s two-goal advantage with a brilliant finish at the far post after another quick break.
The Czech international, who also scored four goals in the final match of 2024 against Freiburg, has scored 11 league goals this season.
The hosts did not have any chances in the second half, but they saved their lives when Serho Djerassi scored a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Leverkusen survived Dortmund’s late pressure thanks to some great defending from Edmund Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie, to maintain their lead and raise their tally to 35 points, one point behind Bayern, who travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.
Dortmund’s first defeat at home this season left them in sixth place with 25 points.