Borussia Dortmund secured a convincing 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling match on Sunday, overshadowing Xabi Alonso’s final home game in charge while boosting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Leverkusen started strong, taking the lead with a goal from Jeremie Frimpong. However, Dortmund quickly turned the tide with goals from Julian Brandt, Julian Ryerson, Karim Adeyemi, and Serhou Guirassy, completing a remarkable comeback.
Alonso, who led Leverkusen to a domestic double last season, announced his decision to step down at the end of the campaign, with rumors linking him to Real Madrid. Despite the defeat, fans at the BayArena showed their appreciation for the departing manager with banners saying “Danke Xabi”.
“It was an emotional day, and this club will remain close to my heart,” Alonso said. “I’ll forget the scoreline soon enough.”
The atmosphere was filled with nostalgia as Leverkusen fans celebrated the club’s first league title just a year ago. Defender Jonathan Tah, who is also leaving this summer, praised Alonso’s impact, calling him not only a top coach but also a great human being.
On the pitch, Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel making several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Frimpong opened the scoring for Leverkusen, but Dortmund responded quickly, with Brandt and Ryerson finding the back of the net before halftime.
In the second half, Dortmund continued their attacking display, with Adeyemi and Guirassy adding to their lead. Despite a late consolation goal from Leverkusen, Dortmund secured the victory.
With one game remaining, Alonso will lead Leverkusen for the last time next Saturday against Mainz. Meanwhile, Dortmund’s resurgence in the top-four race has put them just one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg. Eintracht Frankfurt, in third place, dropped points in a draw against St Pauli, setting up a crucial clash with Freiburg for Champions League qualification.
In other matches, Stuttgart was set to host Augsburg in a German Cup final rehearsal later on Sunday. The Bundesliga season is reaching its climax, with intense battles for European qualification and relegation survival.
