Bayer Leverkusen Win 5-Goal Thriller vs Borussia Dortmund, Heat Up Bundesliga Title Race

Patrik Schick scored a first-half brace as Bayer Leverkusen won 3-2 at a flu-hit Borussia Dortmund on Friday, closing the gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to one point. Already struck by an injury crisis, illness ripped through Dortmund's defence, with centre-backs Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, along with left-back Ramy Bensebaini, ruled out just hours before kick-off as the Bundesliga restarted from the winter break.

The defending champions took advantage of Dortmund's inexperienced defence early, scoring through Nathan Tella after just 25 seconds before Patrik Schick added another on the eight-minute mark.

English winger Jamie Gittens pulled one back but Schick restored Leverkusen's two-goal lead shortly afterwards.

A late Serhou Guirassy penalty gave Dortmund hope but Leverkusen held on for their ninth straight win in all competitions, turning up the heat on Bayern, who travel to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

"I'll be honest, we're not looking at Bayern, we're focused on ourselves and we're on the right track," Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka told DAZN.

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso benched in-form midfielder Florian Wirtz due to an "internal issue".

Dortmund's problems were less vague, with three first-choice centre-backs along with wing-backs Pascal Gross and Bensebaini missing.

Dortmund's makeshift defence, including youngsters Almugera Kabar and Yannik Luehrs, was breached almost immediately.

England-born Nigeria winger Tella unleashed a superb strike into the top corner after Leverkusen pressed the nervous hosts into a mistake while playing out from the back.

The visitors quickly doubled their lead, Schick tapping in Piero Hincapie's low cross.

Dortmund dragged themselves back into the match just four