Diaby plays key role in win
Moussa Diaby scored one and set up another as Bayer Leverkusen moved into second in the Bundesliga after a 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena.
Leverkusen smiling in second place for now 🤪 #BLMatchday pic.twitter.com/Wb5yh7ZcXE
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) January 19, 2021
First half
Diaby gave the hosts the lead in the 14th minute, running onto a raking pass from Leon Bailey. He killed the ball stone dead with a wonderful first touch, and finished past Roman Burki despite the goalkeeper getting a touch to it with his boot.
Diaby had a shot saved in the 27th minute as Leverkusen poured forward and bossed proceedings. He then drove past Hummels and into the area, before firing a weak shot into the arms of the goalkeeper.
The Frenchman then crossed for Lucas Alario, but his headed effort was saved by Burki.
Second half
Dortmund were dominated in the first half, but improved after the break and got level in the 67th minute when former Leverkusen player Julian Brandt bent a shot past the outstretched arms of Lukas Hradecky.
Just over a minute later, Brandt nearly forced the ball in at the back post but Edmond Tapsoba cleared off the line.
It was Leverkusen who found the winner with 10 minutes to go, with the visitors leaving gaps at the back in search of a winner.
Thomas Meunier conceded possession to Patrik Schick, who played a quick one-two with Diaby. Diaby then carried the ball and found Wirtz, who was unmarked on the right-hand side. He then emphatically blasted a shot into the net to give Leverkusen the three points. It was the 17-year-old’s sixth goal of the season.
What it means
Leverkusen secured their first win in five Bundesliga matches to go above Dortmund into second. Dortmund drop down to fourth. They have won just three of their last nine league games.
Other results
Wolfsburg moved into fifth with a 2-0 win at Mainz, while Borussia Mönchengladbach edged past Werder Bremen 1-0. Andrej Kramaric scored twice as Hoffenheim beat struggling Hertha 3-0.
Featured image: Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
