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Leverkusen (dpa) - Was that it for Borussia Dortmund?

After a well-deserved defeat in the duel at Bayer Leverkusen, the runner-up is threatened with farewell to the Bundesliga championship race as early as half-way through the season.

As a result of the 1: 2 (0: 1), BVB's deficit on leaders FC Bayern, who plays in Augsburg this Wednesday, could increase to ten points - Bayer, on the other hand, keeps pace with three points more than Dortmund as second in the table.

Moussa Diaby (14th) and exceptional talent Florian Wirtz (80th) met in a lively and interesting game for strong hosts who had only taken one point from the four previous games.

The former Leverkusen-based Julian Brandt (67th) achieved the interim compensation.

Dortmund's coach Edin Terzic has had a good start with ten points from six games and now has a mixed record.

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With a similar playing structure, both teams only needed a few minutes to get into the game.

Returning Wirtz, who recently paused three competitive games due to a slight overload in his knee, tested BVB goalkeeper Roman Bürki (2nd) early on.

In front of the Bayer goal, Dortmund's captain Marco Reus moved from a promising position (4th).

"These are two teams that want to play forward," said Leverkusen's coach Peter Bosz shortly before the kick-off at Sky.

The opening goal for the hosts was initiated by Leon Bailey with a strong long ball straight into Diaby's run, who skillfully finished with his left foot.

Bayer then determined the game against noticeably uncreative Dortmund.

Offensive, the highly talented BVB lacked ideas against cleverly positioned Leverkusen in the entire first half.

Erling Haaland missed a good chance to equalize in the 24th minute.

Thomas Meunier missed the best BVB opportunity to date after the break (56th).

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Driven by the exceptional talent Wirtz, Leverkusen should have led higher early.

But Bürki parried brilliantly against the unstoppable Diaby (27./35.) And Alario (44.).

The changed BVB defense with Thomas Delaney for the suspended Emre Can in midfield and Manuel Akanji in central defense for the injured Dan-Axel Zagadou was too easy to play.

Coach Terzic looked visibly pissed off on the sidelines.

Bayer coach Bosz repeatedly called on the pitch according to instructions.

"Aggressive," demanded the Dutchman, who had brought captain Charles Aranguiz back into the starting line-up after his three-month injury break.

BVB only got better during the second half.

Reus, Brandt and Jadon Sancho kept looking for Haaland at the top.

Brandt equalized with his first Bundesliga goal in almost exactly a year (January 18, 2020).

The national player held back after the goal against his ex-club with the cheers.

BVB then pressed for the second goal - but then Wirtz came back to lead Bayer with his powerful shot.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210119-99-91966 / 2

Borussia Dortmund

Bayer Leverkusen

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