Bundesliga - BVB bulwark holds for 74 minutes: Boniface saves Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund may have caused unbeaten league leaders Bayer Leverkusen to falter, but they were not brought down. Victor Boniface 's goal in the 79th minute of Sunday's 1:1 (0:1) draw saved Leverkusen from their first defeat in their 20th game of the season and ensured that their ten-point lead over runners-up Dortmund remains intact. As a result, the Werkself remain the main rivals in the title race to serial champions FC Bayern Munich, who now have three points fewer following their lost game against Union Berlin. However, Bayer conceded points for the first time in 14 consecutive competitive matches.
Norwegian full-back Julian Ryerson (5) had given Dortmund an early lead five days after their 3-1 coup in the Champions League at Italian giants AC Milan. BVB 's defensive bulwark, organized by the once again outstanding Mats Hummels, held out for 74 minutes, but then Boniface scored. For BVB, however, the next crucial games are in the cup at surprise team Stuttgart and in the championship against cup winners RB Leipzig.
Both teams went into the game with a clear plan, and after less than five minutes the division of roles became even clearer. After BVB had had the ball in their own ranks for a long time and had broken up two attempts to attack, Marco Reus played the through pass, Niclas Füllkrug made the clearance and Ryerson gave Lukas Hradecky no chance. Leverkusen were behind at home for the first time this season.
And the game was clear from that moment on at the latest. BVB stood unusually deep, but acted in a disciplined manner organized by Hummels and closed the spaces well with the defensive self-confidence from the Milan victory. Leverkusen, who fielded the same starting XI for the ninth time on matchday 13, tried to find gaps with high possession and constant lateral movement, but rarely succeeded at the start.
Bayer even often broke through on the wings, especially on the right via Jeremie Frimpong, but the penalty area occupation was usually inadequate. However, the equalizer then seemed to be on the cards when Frimpong's cross was almost cleared through the entire penalty area and Wirtz hit a spinning shot under the crossbar (45.+1). A dream goal - but one that did not count due to Victor Boniface being ruled offside. The pressure had increased and BVB were now happy to go into the break unscathed. Another flaw: Dortmund had not scored a dangerous counter-attack since the opening goal. And on the first one shortly after the break, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens allowed Odilon Kossounou to run him down (51').
Defensively, the visitors looked as solid after the break as they had in the first half-hour. And Hummels increasingly became the tower in the battle. The scene in the 62nd minute, when he blocked a shot from Argentina's world champion Exequiel Palacios at the very last second, was symbolic.
But that couldn't go on forever. And Alonso proved to have a lucky hand. The Spaniard brought on striker Patrik Schick, who did the groundwork for the equalizer seconds later.
Information about the match on bundesliga.de
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- Bayer Leverkusen, currently leading the Bundesliga, faced a challenge from Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, but Victor Boniface's goal in the 79th minute saved a draw and maintained their ten-point lead.
- Despite Dortmund taking an early lead, thanks to Julian Ryerson's goal after five minutes, Leverkusen managed to hold out for 74 minutes before Boniface equalized.
- The draw against BVB was Leverkusen's first slip-up in 14 consecutive competitive matches, but they remain the main title contenders behind serial champions FC Bayern Munich.
- Bayern had lost their game against Union Berlin before this, which reduced their lead over Dortmund and Leverkusen to three points.
- The match took place in North Rhine-Westphalia, the home ground of Borussia Dortmund, and Leverkusen needed Mats Hummels' defensive organization to counter their opponent's attacks.
- Hummels' defensive prowess was evident in the 62nd minute, when he blocked a shot from Argentina's world champion Exequiel Palacios at the very last second.
- Leverkusen, who fielded the same starting XI for the ninth time on matchday 13, tried to find gaps with high possession and constant lateral movement, but were often thwarted by Dortmund's solid defense.
- Dortmund, on the other hand, acted in a disciplined manner, breaking up two attempts to attack in the beginning and refusing to yield any dangerous counter-attacks after falling behind.
- Stuttgart and RB Leipzig will be the next opponents for Borussia Dortmund, a crucial game in their quest to narrow the gap between them and Leverkusen in the title race.
- Mats Hummels' outstanding performance in defense received praise, as he organized BVB's bulwark, repelling attacks from Leverkusen and giving his team a chance to regroup.
- In the Champions League, Dortmund had bagged a 3-1 victory against Italian giants AC Milan just five days prior to this Bundesliga match, a result that boosted their confidence and performance in this competition.
Source: www.stern.de
