Dortmund thump Leverkusen to spoil Alonso's home farewell

New Straits Times

12-05-2025

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Borussia Dortmund romped to a 4–2 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, spoiling Xabi Alonso's final home match in charge while boosting their Champions League hopes.
The visitors came from behind after Jeremie Frimpong's early strike, responding with goals from Julian Brandt, Julian Ryerson, Karim Adeyemi, and Serhou Guirassy.
Alonso, who guided Leverkusen to a league and cup double last season in his first full campaign in charge, announced on Friday that he would be leaving the club — with Real Madrid widely tipped as his next destination.
The Spaniard told reporters his departure was "emotional and this club will stay in my heart forever", adding that he would "forget the result from today pretty quickly".
Leverkusen's title defence faltered with a 2–2 draw at Freiburg last Sunday, but home fans remained in celebratory mood — 12 months after Alonso led them to a first league title in the club's 120-year history.
Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, also set to leave at the end of the season, was full of praise for Alonso.
"He's got a certain aura. He's a great coach and a great person. We can be thankful to him," said Tah.
Before kick-off, Leverkusen honoured Alonso's time at the club, with fans chanting "Danke Xabi" and holding up placards bearing images of the Basque coach — but Dortmund were in no mood to join the celebration.
The hosts dominated the opening stages, pinning Dortmund in their own half. Only a series of superb saves from Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel — seven before half-time alone — kept Leverkusen at bay.
Leverkusen's pressure finally paid off after 31 minutes, when Florian Wirtz danced through the penalty area, drew three defenders and laid the ball off to Frimpong, who curled a shot into the top corner.
Dortmund had barely ventured out of their own half, but the goal sparked them into life. Just two minutes later, Adeyemi cut the ball back for Brandt to smash home the equaliser.
Brandt also played a key role in Dortmund's second two minutes before the break, winning the ball near the touchline and delivering a cross to Pascal Groß, who turned and set up Ryerson to fire a low shot into the net.
Adeyemi and Guirassy — both of whom had scored braces in last week's 4–0 thrashing of Wolfsburg — found the net again within four minutes of each other in the second half.
Guirassy now has 33 goals in 44 matches in his first season with Dortmund.
Wirtz, who has been linked with a summer move, provided a late consolation assist for Jonas Hofmann in stoppage time.
Alonso will take charge of Leverkusen one last time in next week's match at Mainz, but the club is guaranteed to finish second, regardless of the result.
Dortmund, who were as low as 12th earlier in the season, have now taken 19 of a possible 21 points and sit just one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg.
"It's not in our hands, but we're a bit closer and we've got one more final next week at home," said coach Niko Kovač to DAZN.
Dortmund's hopes were further lifted when third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2–2 draw at home to St Pauli later on Sunday.
Rasmus Kristensen opened the scoring with a spectacular goal after just 23 seconds, but St Pauli hit back through Manolis Saliakas and Morgan Guilavogui to take the lead.
Former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi equalised in the 71st minute and had the ball in the net again late on, but the goal was disallowed for handball.
Frankfurt remain third but face fourth-placed Freiburg next week, with the winner guaranteed a Champions League spot. Dortmund must beat relegated Holstein Kiel at home to join them.
In Sunday's final match, Stuttgart cruised to a 4–0 home win over 10-man Augsburg, with goals from Atakan Karazor, Nick Woltemade, Enzo Millot and Ermedin Demirović.
Stuttgart will meet third-division side Arminia Bielefeld in the German Cup final on 24 May.