Xabi's horde turns Yellow Wall into Wall of Tears

New Year, but old Bayer Leverkusen and, unfortunately for their fans, old Borussia Dortmund. Nuri Sahin's men simply cannot find the right form this season, and tonight's visitors knew how to exploit it.

Already in the 19th minute, Bayer were 3-1 up behind Tella's 26th-second opener (?!) and Schick's brace, while Gittens left a "grain of hope" that Borussia could avoid defeat. That grain was even bigger when Guirassy made it 3-2 from the spot 11 minutes before the end, but Dortmund failed to make a complete comeback.

Four goals in 19 minutes? Dortmund and Leverkusen took care of that! Moreover, the visitors opened the scoring after only 26 seconds with Nathan Tella's screamer! To make the home fans' shock even greater, Patrik Schick made it 2-0 already in the eighth minute after a hasty counter over the left flank.

Jamie Gittens used the misunderstanding in Lever's defence to reduce the gap just four minutes later, but the Yellow Wall's joy didn't last for long, as the 19th minute brought another goal for Xabi Alonso's crew and another for Schick following another fastbreak - only this time the threat came from the right wing.

Even though there were no more goals until the break, Serhou Guirassy, Karim Adeyemi, and Maximilian Beier on one side, and Jeremie Frimpong on the other wasted some decent chances.

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Alonso knew it was time to lower the pace, be smarter, and defend the lead, while waiting for another chance for a lethal counterattack. Hence, Bayer set the rhythm which worked ideally for them, making the second half seem totally different than the first period.

Yet they couldn't avoid drama, as Dortmund were awarded a penalty in the 79th minute, which Guirassy sent home, giving the home fans hope their players could at least avoid defeat.

Sahin focused all his powers on attack in the last ten minutes, pursuing the leveller, but fell short. Following this defeat, Dortmund could fall even to the tenth Bundesliga spot if their rivals win their 16th-round games, while Leverkusen came closer to Bayern Munich, as they sit only one point behind the Bavarians.

BUNDESLIGA MATCHDAY 16

Friday

Dortmund - Leverkusen 2-3 (1-3)

/Gittens 12, Guirassy 79 pen - Tella 1, Schick 8, 19/

Saturday

17:30: (1.42) Freiburg (4.60) Holstein Kiel (7.50)

17:30: (3.20) Heidenheim (3.40) Union Berlin (2.40)

17:30: (2.45) Hoffenheim (3.60) Wolfsburg (2.95)

17:30: (1.55) Mainz (4.10) Bochum (6.25)

17:30: (3.60) St.Pauli (3.45) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.05)

20:30: (6.75) M' gladbach (5.30) Bayern (1.45)

Sunday

17:30: (1.80) RB Leipzig (3.60) Werder (4.60)

19:30: (3.60) Augsburg (3.50) Stuttgart (2.05)

***odds are subject to change***