Clinical Borussia Dortmund dispatch Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 to continue perfect start to 2023

Karim Adeyemi scored his first goal in the German Bundesliga as Borussia Dortmund beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 to maintain their perfect start to 2023.

It wasn’t the prettiest of performances, but Borussia Dortmund got the job done against Bayer Leverkusen to move within three points of Bayern Munich. Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring in the first half, before an own goal from Edmond Tapsoba helped the Black and Yellows secure a 2-0 win.

Gregor Kobel was also on song for BVB as he made six crucial saves en route to a well earned clean sheet.

Fresh after assisting the winning goal against Mainz, Sebastien Haller made his first ever start for Borussia Dortmund as Edin Terzic decided to switch things up in attack. Jude Bellingham also made his return to the starting XI after missing the Mainz game through suspension, while Marco Reus started on the back after recovering from his illness.

Bayer Leverkusen came out of the blocks quickly and created a number of decent openings early on. Gregor Kobel had to be alert to deny Moussa Diaby in the 16th minute. But the BVB defenders managed to keep the home side at bay after that.

And it was their energetic defending from the front that resulted in the opening goal. Borussia Dortmund won the ball high up the pitch, before Julian Brandt played a low cross into the box. Sebastien Haller let the ball pass through to Karim Adeyemi, who was left completely unmarked.

The young forward found the bottom corner for his first goal in the German Bundesliga and gave his side a 1-0 lead to take into the break.

The story of the second half was more of the same, with Bayer Leverkusen dominating possession but Borussia Dortmund showing great resolve defensively.

Borussia Dortmund’s shrewd high pressing continued to cause Xabi Alonso’s side all sorts of problems. And the away side finally got their second goal in the 53rd minute when Edmond Tapsoba inadvertently turned Marius Wolf’s cross into the back of the net.

Content with their two goal lead, Dortmund allowed Leverkusen to have the majority of the ball and looked dangerous every time they ventured forward on the counter attack. Leverkusen had a few chances of their own, but Gregor Kobel was at his imperious best and made a number of superb saves to keep his side’s lead intact.

In the end, Bayer Leverkusen’s challenge fizzled out and Borussia Dortmund managed to see out the 2-0 win. The result will come as a huge boost for Dortmund, who are now up to fourth place in the Bundesliga standings. Next up for BVB is a home game against SC Freiburg on Saturday.