Boniface preserves Leverkusen's unbeaten record - and gets a nod from Lady Luck

Pure willpower, German persistence and the stubbornness Xabi Alonso drove Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Sunday evening. Even though the first defeat of the season looked near, Alonso's men grabbed a late leveller to keep their impressive run going.

Leverkusen were losing at home to Dortmund from the 5th minute, but he managed to escape. He surged stronger and stronger, attacking the last line of the black and yellows, which relented in the 79th minute. However, Borussia is not a team that's very good at defending. On the contrary.

All things considered, the Aspirin Makers deserved three points, but they struggled to even secure one. And they provided Bayern with the opportunity to leapfrog them on the table and rise to the top when the time comes for the champions to play their postponed match,1-1.

When everything is summed up, Leverkusen didn't deserve to lose. They dominated the rival from start to finish, but that one moment of weakness, allowing the guests to stroll into the goal, cost them to push hard just to reach for a draw. Truthfully, despite total dominance in the field, greater possession of the ball, more shots on goal, the home team failed to create many big, clear chances. Even twice, when the equaliser seemed inevitable, Dortmund's defenders' timely tackles prevented shots towards their goal.

In the end, fate gave a nod to the hosts, as Nicklas Fullkrug missed a colossal chance in the 95th minute: in the six-yard box, he shot with his head - over the goal.

The match started furiously. However, that couldn't lead to the conclusion that a more significant part of the first half would be uninteresting. Leverkusen composed two dangerous attacks, albeit without a chance to score, and then their net shook.

Dortmund's attack lasted long. Half the team touched the ball, from the first touch, just like Barcelona once did. And the black and yellows strolled with the ball right up to the six-yard box, from where Ryerson easily found the home team's net - 1-0.

The hosts took control of the game, only failing to translate it into a more concrete result, not even creating any significant chances. Grimaldo's shot from a free-kick in the 31st minute was dangerous, but Kobel stopped it, while the entire stadium rose to its feet in the final seconds of the first half when Florian Wirtz scored a wonder goal, yet VAR was unforgiving - offside! With the first touch of the ball, Victor Boniface was behind the defence and the beautiful goal was disallowed.

When the balance was drawn at the end of the first half, it was 8-2 in shots on goal for Leverkusen, but on the scoreboard - 0-1.

The second half brought the expected picture on the field: Leverkusen pressed even harder, Dortmund waited for a chance on the counter. The ball wandered through the six-yard box of the black and yellows several times; however, Hummels and Papadopoulos saved the guests, preserving their lead. Until the 79th minute. The Bundesliga leader played a perfect move: Schick connected with Boniface with a masterful pass, who remained as free as a ghost in the six-yard box and easily placed the ball into the net for 1-1.

The final minutes of the match were in complete Leverkusen offensive, Dortmund's gritty defence, and in the end - almost the guests came close to victory. Fullkrug will be haunted by that miss in the 95th minute.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 13

Friday

Darmstadt - Koln 0-1 (0-0)

/Selke 60/

Saturday

Borussia Monchengladbach - Hoffenheim 2-1 (0-0)

/Plea 58 pen, Ngoumou 80 - Weghorst 60/

Bochum - Wolfsburg 3-1 (2-1)

/Osterhage 19, Bernardo 39, Antwi-Adjei 87 - Svanberg 45+1/

RB Leipzig - Heidenheim 2-1 (2-1)

/Openda 29 pen, Poulsen 44 - Gimber 45+2/

Stuttgart - Werder 2-0 (1-0)

/Undav 17, Guirassy 75 pen/

Sunday

Mainz - Freiburg 0-1 (0-0)

/Gregoritsch 69/

Leverkusen - Dortmund 1-1 (0-1)

/Boniface 79 - Ryerson 5/

Augsburg - Eintr. Franfkurt IN PROGRESS