Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings: Andrich Stunner Seals Narrow Victory For the Away Side

Bayer Leverkusen secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in a tightly contested Bundesliga clash. It was a cagey encounter where both sides struggled to create clear chances, but a single moment of brilliance ultimately proved decisive.

The breakthrough came just before halftime when Robert Andrich unleashed a stunning long-range strike, giving Leverkusen the lead and silencing the home crowd. It was a goal that stood out in an otherwise tactical battle.

Dortmund pushed hard in the second half, searching for an equaliser, but lacked the cutting edge in the final third. They came closest through Serhou Guirassy, whose effort rattled the crossbar, leaving the hosts inches away from leveling the score.

Leverkusen, however, remained disciplined at the back and managed the game well in the closing stages. Their defensive resilience ensured they held on for a crucial away win.

In the end, it was a professional and composed performance from Leverkusen, who made their moment count to take all three points.

Check out the Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen edged past Borussia Dortmund thanks to Robert Andrich’s stunning long-range strike.
• Despite second-half pressure, the hosts couldn’t convert chances, with Serhou Guirassy hitting the crossbar.
• A compact and organized defensive display ensured they held on for a valuable 1-0 away victory.

Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Here's a look at the Borussia Dortmund player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Gregor Kobel - 6.0: Could he have done better for the goal? Probably not, it was a fantastic strike. He made a couple of decent saves and was okay with his distribution. The error leading to a shot is a black mark against him, and he just seemed a little less commanding than usual. An average day at the office.

Defenders

Waldemar Anton - 7.0: A really solid and composed display from Anton. He won the majority of his duels and his passing was impressively accurate, even when trying to build from the back. We noticed he was rarely beaten one-on-one. He even provided an assist for a Brandt chance. One of the few bright spots for Dortmund.

Nico Schlotterbeck - 6.5: A mixed bag from the captain. On one hand, he was a beast in the air winning most of his aerial duels, and made four crucial interceptions. On the other hand, he was dribbled past twice and missed a big headed chance early on. He led the defensive line but seemed to lack that decisive edge today.

Ramy Bensebaini - 4.0: Oh dear. What stood out to us was just how off the pace he looked from the very start. He picked up an incredibly clumsy yellow card within five minutes. His stats show an error leading to a goal, and from our perspective, he was caught out of position for the Andrich strike. A really poor performance all around.

Midfielders

Jobe Bellingham - 6.5: He worked tirelessly in the midfield, as you'd expect. He recovered the ball eight times and put in some important tackles to break up Leverkusen's rhythm. However, he didn't offer enough going forward and his influence waned as the game progressed before being substituted. A decent effort, but not game-changing.

Julian Brandt - 5.5: A frustrating afternoon for Brandt. He got into good positions and had three shots, but none of them troubled the keeper. From our perspective, his decision-making in the final third was poor. Being dispossessed four times tells the story of a player who tried things but couldn't make them happen. Disappointing.

Marcel Sabitzer - 6.0: He was tidy in possession with a 94% pass accuracy but his overall impact was minimal. He put in a few crosses but couldn't find a teammate in a dangerous area. We expected more from a player of his quality before he was hooked after an hour. He just drifted through the game.

Daniel Svensson - 6.5: A hundred percent pass accuracy is something you love to see from a midfielder. He was neat and tidy during his hour on the pitch and even created a chance. It was a surprise to see him taken off, as he seemed to be one of Dortmund's more reliable players. A promising, if brief, outing.

Julian Ryerson - 6.0: He was a willing runner down the flank and created one big chance, which Guirassy should have done better with. However, losing possession 14 times is far too high. He got forward well but his final ball and decision-making let him down on too many occasions. A very mixed performance.

Forwards

Serhou Guirassy - 6.0: So, so unlucky. He was a constant nuisance and got into good positions, but it just wasn't his day. He hit the woodwork with a great effort and missed another big chance from a header. He got a yellow card for his troubles too. You can't fault his effort, but a striker is judged on goals, and he couldn't deliver.

Fábio Silva - 5.0: Almost completely anonymous. He had very few touches and was caught offside when trying to make a run. He offered little threat and it was no surprise when he was substituted after 64 minutes. He needs to offer much more to be a starter.

Substitutes

Maximilian Beier - 5.5: Came on and immediately got booked for a clumsy foul. Didn't add much spark.

Carney Chukwuemeka - 6.5: Looked lively and set up the chance for Guirassy that hit the bar.

Samuele Inácio - 6.0: Had a few decent touches and tried to link up play.

Salih Özcan - N/A: Brought on late to add energy but had little time to make an impact.

Manager

N. Kovač - 5.0: His team looked flat and devoid of ideas in the final third. At home, you expect Dortmund to create more and they simply didn't. The substitutions didn't quite have the desired effect, and tactically, they were outmaneuvered by a more organized Leverkusen side. A tough day for the coach.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Borussia Dortmund

Let's take a look at the Bayer Leverkusen player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 7.0: He didn't have many world-class saves to make, but everything he did, he did with confidence. He claimed high balls well and his distribution was decent enough. A clean sheet away at Dortmund is always a massive achievement for a goalkeeper.

Defenders

Loïc Badé - 8.0: What a performance at the back. His clearance off the line was absolutely vital, a game-saving intervention. He was strong in the tackle and read the game superbly. He was a huge reason Leverkusen kept a clean sheet. A fantastic defensive display.

Robert Andrich - 8.5: The clear man of the match, what a performance. His goal was an absolute stunner, a beautifully struck shot from outside the box that decided the contest. But it wasn't just the goal. He was a rock in the heart of that Leverkusen side, leading by example as captain. We noticed him breaking up play effectively. A truly complete performance.

Edmond Tapsoba - 8.0: Imperious. His 96% pass accuracy shows just how comfortable he is on the ball. He won nearly all his duels and made several key clearances and tackles. From our perspective, he barely put a foot wrong all game. A Rolls-Royce of a defender.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 7.5: Another classy performance from Grimaldo. He was a constant outlet on the left, creating two chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was also very sound, winning his tackles and tracking back diligently. He provides so much balance to this team. A top-tier showing.

Aleix García - 8.0: The metronome in midfield. He completed 95% of his passes and dictated the tempo of the game for Leverkusen. He was always available for a pass and sprayed the ball around with intelligence and vision. His control allowed Leverkusen to manage the game perfectly after taking the lead.

Exequiel Palacios - 8.0: An absolute engine in the middle of the park. He recovered the ball a staggering 10 times and created three chances for his attackers. His energy was infectious, and he completely dominated the midfield battle. A phenomenal all-action display.

Montrell Culbreath - 6.0: A steady if unspectacular performance. He kept possession well but didn't offer a great deal in the final third before being substituted. He did his job for the team without standing out. A functional part of a winning machine.

Forwards

Nathan Tella - 5.5: A quiet game for the attacker. He struggled to get involved and was often on the periphery of the action. He was caught offside and didn't manage to create any danger. Substituted after a forgettable 74 minutes.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.5: He looked lively and was always trying to make things happen. He created a big chance and drew a couple of fouls in dangerous areas. However, he was also a bit careless in possession at times, losing it 14 times. A raw but promising talent.

Christian Kofane - 4.5: Really struggled to make any impact whatsoever. He lost nine of his ten duels which is a shocking statistic. He was dispossessed four times and offered no threat before being put out of his misery and substituted early in the second half. A very difficult afternoon.

Substitutes

Patrik Schick - 6.0: Came on to offer a different physical presence but didn't have any clear-cut chances.

Lucas Vázquez - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ernest Poku - N/A: Brought on late to see the game out.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. His side was organized, disciplined, and defensively solid. They frustrated Dortmund and took their one big chance with clinical precision. Managing an away win and a clean sheet at Signal Iduna Park is a huge tactical achievement. Masterclass.

Man of the Match

Robert Andrich was the man of the match, scoring the decisive winning goal.

Worst Performer

From our perspective, Ramy Bensebaini had the most difficult game, making a key error.