Borussia Dortmund kept their Champions League aspirations firmly intact with a commanding 4-2 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen, closing the gap on fourth-placed Freiburg to a single point ahead of the Bundesliga’s final matchday.
With Freiburg claiming a crucial win the previous day, the pressure was squarely on Dortmund to respond, and they delivered in style at the BayArena.
Ramy Bensebaïni, the Algerian international, played a standout role, featuring from the first whistle and producing an assured performance across the 90 minutes, as the visitors put in a clinical display to maintain their pursuit of a top-four finish.
Leverkusen, already guaranteed second place in the league and now effectively playing out the season, showed signs of complacency in their approach.
The recent confirmation of head coach Xabi Alonso’s future move to Real Madrid appeared to dampen the home side’s intensity, with their focus clearly no longer fixed on domestic matters.
Dortmund, by contrast, approached the match with urgency and determination. Knowing that anything short of a win would severely damage their European hopes, Edin Terzić’s side wasted little time asserting control.
Their attacking intent was evident from the outset, and they were rewarded with early goals that set the tone for the contest.
Bensebaïni, ever-present in defence and instrumental in transition, provided much-needed balance and composure.
His influence extended beyond his own half, often pushing forward to support the attack and helping to nullify Leverkusen’s attempts at mounting a comeback.
Despite moments of resistance from the hosts, including two goals that momentarily narrowed the deficit, Dortmund’s efficiency in front of goal ensured the outcome was never seriously in doubt.
The result reflects a team still hungry for European football, in sharp contrast to a Leverkusen side already looking ahead to next season.
This vital win brings Dortmund to within one point of Freiburg in the Bundesliga standings, with just one round of fixtures remaining. Dortmund are set to face relegated Holstein Kiel on May 17—a favourable matchup on paper—while Freiburg host Eintracht Frankfurt in a potentially more challenging encounter.
The permutations are straightforward: a win for Dortmund combined with any slip from Freiburg would see the five-time German champions secure a coveted Champions League spot for next season. The scenario keeps Dortmund’s hopes alive and injects added drama into the league’s closing weekend.
For Bensebaïni and his teammates, the mission is clear. The final hurdle now stands between them and a place among Europe’s elite—a goal that, until recently, seemed to be slipping out of reach.
However, with performances like the one witnessed in Leverkusen, belief is once again surging through the Dortmund camp.
As the Bundesliga season draws to a close, all eyes will turn to the decisive fixtures on May 17. Dortmund, buoyed by this crucial win, will hope that their late-season surge proves just enough to reclaim a place at European football’s top table.
