Dortmund Slide Continues With 1-1 Draw To Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund has run its winless streak to # with a 1-1 draw Saturday to Bayer Leverkusen. The loss means BVB have not won a league match since matchday 7 and increasingly asks questions of the direction of the club. Leverkusen meanwhile extends their unbeaten streak to nine matches.

Peter Bosz again shook up his starting XI, playing Nevan Subotic alongside Sokratis in the back. Roman Burki returned to the starting keeper spot while Andriy Yarmolenko assumed the vacant top spot from red card-suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The home side set the tone early with the first good chance of the match. A cross from the left side eluded the heads of Dortmund’s defence before finding Kai Havertz, but fortunately for the visitors, the clean header hit the crossbar. On the pass Leon Bailey gave Gonzalo Castro, a simple deek and beat the defender to set-up a cross that should have resulted in a goal.

In the 30th minute, Dortmund would not be so lucky. Again playing an incredibly high line, a turnover in midfield led to an over-the-top pass to Kevan Volland. The Dortmund defence was unable to recover and Volland rounded Burki yards from goal and almost walked the ball into the back of the net.

Right before halftime, Dortmund received a gift. Wendell came in hard on a challenge on Gonzalo Castro that felled the Spanish international. Video Assistant Referee showed Wendell’s boot making contact with Castro’s ankle, which resulted in Leverkusen going a man down. It also resulted in another substitution and losing Castro to a long-term injury.

Dortmund would be unable to take advantage until the 73rd minute. Substitute Andre Shurrle received a pass from the midfield in the box. The German cut the ball back and found Yarmolenko with a pass and the Ukrainian international slotted home the equalizing goal. The timing was fortuitous, as right before Burki had stopped Volland on a one-on-one that could have put the match away.

To add insult to injury was, well, more injury. Schurrle was on the pitch because Max Philipp was stretchered off in the seventh minute. It looks like the winger will be out for a while.

Dortmund now sit in sixth level on points with Augsburg and Frankfurt but ahead on goal difference. Dortmund on the table is the same distance in terms of points from the top of the table as from the relegation playoff spot. This is their longest winless streak since 2014 under Jurgen Klopp. After finishing their Champions League campaign at Real Madrid midweek the Black and Yellow return to league play against Werder Breman.