Borussia Dortmund beat Leverkusen to continue their perfect start

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:12 am
Shinji Kagawa and Henrikh Mkhitaryan celebrate after their second goal of the match vs. Leverkusen.
Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund returned to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday evening thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the Westfalenstadion.

Jonas Hofmann put Thomas Tuchel's men in front, with Shinji Kagawa adding the second before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wrapped up victory from the penalty spot.

Dortmund, who have won five out of five in the Bundesliga and 11 out of 11 in all competitions this season, lead the way on goal difference ahead of Bayern Munich.

Hofmann got two bites of the cherry to put Dortmund in front in the 18th minute, but Bernd Leno kept out his second effort with his foot before Roman Burki raced out of his goal at the other end to thwart a Leverkusen counter-attack.

It was then third time lucky for Hofmann with Dortmund's next attack, and this time Leno did not look so sharp as he came out of his goal and misjudged a long ball from Shinji Kagawa.

Hofmann kept his eye on the ball and swept it into the unguarded goal after getting in around Leno's back.

Javier Hernandez sent a shot wide as Leverkusen looked to respond immediately but Dortmund continued to set the tone, as they have done all season.

The hosts should have had a second early in the second half when Aubameyang was denied by Leno, before Leverkusen could have had a penalty when Javier Hernandez appeared to be shoved in the back by Marcel Schmelzer but the referee waved play on.

It was a let-off for Dortmund, who swiftly established a more comforting two-goal cushion with Kagawa providing the finish to a fine team move which was started by Hofmann down the right and saw Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan combine with the latter providing the assist for the Japan international.

The referee did point to the penalty spot in the 74th minute when Wendell sent Matthias Ginter crashing to the ground.

Aubameyang stepped up to score his seventh goal of the season and put a seal on Dortmund's win.

Adnan Januzaj and Kagawa both missed chances to make the win more comprehensive while Gonzalo Castro hit the post against his former club.

With Dortmund and Bayern matching each other stride for stride at the top, their misses may eventually prove costly.

As it is, Dortmund lead the Bavarians by two goals heading into a midweek round of matches in the Bundesliga when they head to Hoffenheim while Bayern host Wolfsburg.

ends