Borussia Dortmund bounced back when it mattered most with a 2-1 comeback to hand RB Leipzig their first loss of the Bundesliga season.
Scorers: Beier 30′, Guirassy 64′; Sesko 27′
A Champions League thumping, Bundesliga loss and exit from the DFB Pokal meant Borussia Dortmund had to dig deep as they welcomed unbeaten RB Leipzig to town.
With the pressure on, the hosts dominated the game. Felix Nmecha impressed by continually pushing the team forward in the first half. However, despite BVB’s 10 shots to five, the visitors grabbed the lead.
Benjamin Sesko was left unmarked in the box and beat Nico Schlotterbeck for pace before rifling the ball into the top of the net at the near post.
That lead didn’t last long, though, as Maximilian Beier scored his first goal for Dortmund at the perfect time. The 22-year-old flicked on a header toward goal before celebrating with his teammates.
The party carried over into the second half as the hosts completed the turnaround. Serhou Guirassy was on the end of the ball this time, directing a header across goal and beyond goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi.
With about 30 minutes to go and their unbeaten record on the line, Leipzig tried to take a play out of Dortmund’s book to rally back but no attempts were spectacular.
Substitute Eljif Elmas had an effort cleared off the line and Lois Openda missed the target but Gulácsi made multiple saves at the other end (especially on Julian Brandt) as the hosts remained formidable.
In the end, Dortmund held on for the comeback win and now sits fifth in the table, level with fourth-place Bayer Leverkusen. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, are now three points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
📸 INA FASSBENDER – AFP or licensors