Ex-Brentford player suspect in Dortmund's first goal but then keeps his side in it with super save

By Alessandro Schiavone at BayArena, Leverkusen

Bundesliga Matchday 12

Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Goals: Anselmino 41', Adeyemi 65', Kofane 83'

From the highest of heights to the lowest of lows in the space of four days.

From pulling off the unlikeliest of victories away at Man City on Tuesday night to crashing to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. And with it, any hopes of staying hot on runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich's heels with the Bavarians now eight points in clear waters.

Bayer Leverkusen looked the fresher of the two sides in the opening stages. Yet Poku did all but score when he bamboozled Dortmund's defenders before blazing over a clear-cut chance in the box.

Jonas Hofmann also had a crack, with his low effort missing the target by a yard.

Four days after trashing Villarreal 4-0 in the Champions League, Niko Kovac's Schwarzgelben were chasing shadows and did not know much about it when they suddenly found themselves in front thanks to Aaron Anselmino's header in off the post. Ex-Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken got a hand to it but failed to save the Argentine's attempt. Yet he showed mental strength and redeemed himself with an impressive one-handed save to deny Guirassy from a few yards out in half-two. But Dortmund extended the lead when Adeyemi, free like a bird, headed home Fabio Silva's brilliant delivery.

Brandt could have killed it off when through on goal but fired wide. Flekken's side were given a late lifeline when Kofane poked home Grimaldo's low cross with seven minutes to play.

Yet the damage was already done. And only a couple of days on from winning at Dortmund one-timer Erling Haaland's Treble-chasing Citizens, the 2024 Bundesliga champions suffered their first home loss since the opening-day ignominy against Hoffenheim back in August. Most people would have predicted the opposite. Lose at Pep's stomping ground and win here. Just like most would have had their money on Flekken keeping out Anselmino and not Guirassy's thumping header. As Bees fans are well aware of, Flekken has never been a stranger to alternating saves out of the top drawer and letting in savable shots. And tonight fed into that narrative.