On Sunday afternoon, Borussia Dortmund held Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion as Die Werkself’s remarkable unbeaten run in all competitions this season continues. However, it was far from straight-forward for Xabi Alonso’s side.
In the first half, both Dortmund and Leverkusen found clear-cut chances hard to come by, despite the visitors probing the more telling questions. Nevertheless, if there were to be any major drama, it would come in the form of VAR, or lack thereof, with a few decisions being let go by those in the Kölner Keller.
Regardless, after the interval, a lack of quality continued to haunt both sides. With a clinical edge in front of goal evading Dortmund and Leverkusen, it appeared as though the game would slowly edge towards a 0-0 draw.
Then upstepped Niclas Füllkrug. The former Werder Bremen striker snuck in unmarked at the far post to volley BvB in front as Die Werkself’s unbeaten run in all competitions finally looked to come to a shock end.
As well as this, in accordance with the first half, there would be further VAR drama. Victor Boniface had been shown a red card for pulling Nico Schlotterbeck by his neck before referee Daniel Siebert was instructed to view the monitor.
Upon his inspection, it was clear that the culprit was, in fact, Granit Xhaka. With Boniface’s red card rescinded, it appeared the former Arsenal midfielder was about to receive his marching order, but a yellow card was judged to be a worthy punishment.
Nevertheless, with Dortmund ready to break Leverkusen hearts, in the 98th minute, Alonso’s side did it again. Josip Stanišić’s late goal silenced the Westfalenstadion, other than the jubilant away section, who knew that they were edging closer to becoming the first-ever Bundesliga side to remain unbeaten during a full campaign.
While a draw will not affect anything at the top of the table, with Leverkusen having already been crowned Bundelsiga champions, for Dortmund, it is a missed opportunity to keep them level with RB Leipzig in the race for the top four. However, the impossible has once again been proved impossible; Leverkusen are invincible.
Bayer Leverkusen are invincible
For the large majority of this clash, it appeared as though Leverkusen were never in any danger of losing. While neither side was able to create clear goal-scoring opportunities, the German champions looked more likely.
With Jeremie Frimpong and Nathan Tella coming up short in the final third, whether it be the final ball or a clinical strike, once Füllkrug broke the deadlock, a sense of inevitability fell over the Westfalenstadion. In the past, that inevitability would have been Leverkusen finding an equaliser, or even a winner, but with chances not being taken, it felt as though it was just not meant to be.
Nevertheless, not for the first time this season, Leverkusen proved everybody wrong. Despite the antics late on regarding Xhaka and Schlotterbeck, Die Werkself kept their composure until the very end.
All great teams do; they found a way, and this Leverkusen side may just be the greatest of all teams to ever grace the Bundesliga. Stanišić’s goal meant that Leverkusen’s tally of strikes after the 80th minute in 2024 is up to 16, a remarkable record.
It has been a running joke that Leverkusen may end the season unbeaten, but in the last few weeks, it has begun to feel more like a reality. Now more than ever, an unbeaten season feels, like Leverkusen, inevitable.
GGFN | Will Shopland
