MOTM Poll: Dortmund (Almost) End Bayer Leverkusen’s Unbeaten Run

Well, it almost happened.

Throughout their unbeaten run, Bayer Leverkusen have played sumptuous football that is pleasing to the eye, the mind, and the spirit. Borussia Dortmund have played a style that is... less so. It was the latter who were able to impose their style on the former. This game was gritty, slow, hard-fought, and at times, violent. It’s fitting then, that Bayer Leverkusen’s last-minute equalizer came not from a brilliant combination of passes or a golazo from outside the box, but from a routine corner where Dortmund didn’t quite mark their players tightly enough.

Overall, it was a pretty strong performance from BVB, at least defensively. Leverkusen were not their usual dominant self and overall Dortmund did a pretty good job preventing them from settling into a rhythm. BVB briefly took the lead off a very pretty goal by Niclas Füllkrug, and held on valiantly until the game was almost over, and it was one tiny bounce that went in Leverkusen’s favor that got them the draw.

Julian Ryerson

Ryerson had to contend with Nathan Tella and Alex Grimaldo all game, and all things considered he did pretty well. BVB did a good job breaking up Leverkusen’s movement along the wings (Maatsen and Wolf included).

Niclas Füllkrug

Füllkrug was quiet for most of the game, but I thought his holdup play was always good and his goal was absolutely beautiful.

Nico Schlotterbeck

Schlotterbeck had a pretty strong day defensively, although he had a few misplayed passes. He had 6 tackles and won 8 of his 10 ground duels.

Mats Hummels

Like Schlotterbeck, Hummels was excellent defensively, flying into tackles left and right and breaking up lots of passes inside the box. He had 8 tackles and won 8 of his 9 ground duels.