Champions Bayer Leverkusen battled past hosts Borussia Dortmund 3-2 with two goals from Patrik Schick on Friday to move within a point of leaders Bayern Munich with a sixth straight league win.
In a frenetic opening the visitors struck three times in the first 19 minutes as they enjoyed a perfect start to the year with the league resuming following a three-week winter break.
High pressing by Leverkusen saw them win possession and Nathan Tella drilled home for the lead after 25 seconds.
Dortmund, missing half a dozen key players to injury and illness, had no time to regroup with Leverkusen scoring again in the eighth minute with striker Schick sliding in to complete a textbook counter-attack.
The hosts briefly recovered and pulled a goal back through Jamie Gittens four minutes later but Czech international Schick restored Leverkusen’s two-goal cushion in the 19th with a fine finish at the far post after yet another quick break.
A 79th minute penalty from Serhou Guirassy got Dortmund back into the game again but, despite some late pressure, second-placed Leverkusen held on to reach 35 points, one behind leaders Bayern, who travel to Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
Dortmund’s first home loss of the campaign kept them anchored in sixth on 25 points.Â
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