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Prevented defeat: attentive Mats Hummels (right)

Photo: Christopher Neundorf / EPA

League leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund draw 13-1 (1-0) on Matchday 1 of the Bundesliga. Dortmund took an early lead, but couldn't hold it over.

Leverkusen remain unbeaten this season. The Werkself have won all their games in both the Europa League and the DFB Cup so far, while Leverkusen have won 13 games in the Bundesliga, drawing only against FC Bayern and today against Dortmund.

Xabi Alonso's team extend their lead at the top of the table to three points, but FC Bayern did not play this weekend due to heavy snowfall in Munich and have played one game less. BVB missed out on the Champions League places and are fifth.

With their first attack, Dortmund took the lead. Niclas Füllkrug shielded the ball in the penalty area with his back to goal and then set up the incoming Ryerson. The left-back beat Bayer goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký with a shot into the far corner (5th minute).

The visitors then retreated deep into their own half and let Leverkusen have their way. Jonas Hofmann tried it from distance (19'), Granit Xhaka did better with a volley and made the fans murmur with his shot from 18 yards out (21').

The Werkself were keen to combine, but were largely kept away from the penalty area by Dortmund's compact defence. BVB keeper Gregor Kobel was challenged for the first time by Alejandro Grimaldo's free-kick (31').

Dortmund's passivity was almost punished shortly before the break: Germany international Florian Wirtz shot a cross from Jeremie Frimpong under the crossbar and into the goal, but the goal was disallowed due to a previous offside position by Victor Boniface (45'+1').

After the break, Bayer remained the dominant team, but unlike in the first half, BVB provided relief with occasional excursions into the opponent's half. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was stopped in the box by Leverkusen centre-back Odilon Kossounou (51'), a little later Julian Brandt forced Hrádecký into a save with a long-range shot (54').

When Leverkusen found gaps in the Dortmund defence, an outstretched leg prevented worse: Exequiel Palacios finished from close range, but Mats Hummels, who was very attentive overall, slipped in between (62').

In the 79th minute, the home side equalised. Substitute Patrik Schick crossed to strike partner Boniface, who only had to slide in in the six-yard box to make it 1-1. In injury time, Füllkrug had the chance to make it 2-1 with a header (90+5).

Both teams are in action in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday. Leverkusen host SC Paderborn (18 p.m.; TV: Sky), Dortmund have to play at VfB Stuttgart (20.45; TV: ZDF and Sky).

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