Stanišić strikes late as Leverkusen share spoils with Dortmund

Niclas Füllkrug’s late strike looked to give Dortmund victory, but a late Josip Stanišic header snatched a 1-1 draw for Leverkusen.

The opening half hour of this fixture was a close fought affair. Terzić’s Dortmund appeared content to sit in and allow Leverkusen to control possession. Chances were few and far between for both sides throughout that period. There was a visibly feisty edge early on as hefty challenges and duels rained in from both sides.

Enjoying the lion’s share of attacks, the newly crowned German champions came closer to finding the breakthrough. Perhaps the closest of all was Alejandro Grimaldo’s freekick which just sailed over Kobel’s bar. At the other end, Lukaa Hradecky palmed a Marcel Sabitzer strike away to safety, although Maatsen should have hit the target with the rebound. 

Edin Terzić made a solitary alteration at the break with the already yellow-carded Ian Maatsen replaced by Marius Wolf. The game continued in a rather cagey manner. Perhaps the highlight of the early second-half being Gregor Kobel’s remarkable save that denied Nathan Tella from close range. Xabi Alonso brought on his mercurial talent Florian Wirtz for the final 20 minutes. 

As has been the case all season, Mats Hummels kept the Schwarzgelben defence watertight. Another inspired performance from the centre-half provided the platform to take the lead in the 80th minute. Proving to be a formidable duo of late, Marcel Sabitzer collected Julian Brandt’s flick and crossed to the back post. Niclas Füllkrug lay waiting to thump home a thunderous volley from close range. Tempers flaired late on as players continued to skirmish. On the cusp of their first defeat, Leverkusen refused to lie down. A corner in the 98th minute steered home by Josip Stanišic.