Dortmund scrap past Leverkusen and Leipzig were held to a draw

(Football news) A first half goal by Dortmund captain Marco Reus was enough to carry last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund past Bayer Leverkusen in their first match in the Bundesliga on Saturday but their win was overshadowed by an injury to new signing Karim Adeyemi. It was also a victorious return to coach for Edin Terzic, who was back on the bench after 15 months following his first stint as an interim coach in 2021.

Adeyemi's injury forced him off in the 23rd minute and was the latest new signing who got injured, as Dortmund are already without defender Niklas Sule who is nursing a thigh injury and forward Sebastien Haller could be out for months following the discovery of a malignant testicular tumour. Adeyemi thought he had scored the first goal when he turned a Youssoufa Moukoko cutback toward goal in the 10th minute but the ball was kept on the line by Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky before Reus stabbed it over for the much deserved lead. Minutes later, the German international Adeyemi was taken off following a knock on his foot

Leverkusen, who finished third last season, had their share of chances and Mo Dahoud perfectly timed a sliding tackle in the 42nd minute on Patrik Schick who would have had the chance to level. Dortmund came close to doubling the lead after the break with Hradecky denying Thorgan Hazard in the 50th before Schick responded with a pair of chances of his own and forced two good saves from Dortmund's Gregor Kobel. It was a much improved performance by Leverkusen who were shocked last week in the German Cup first round exit to third division team Elversberg. The hopes of a draw were spoilt when Hradecky was sent off for holding the ball with his hands outside the box late in the game.

"We did not start really well, lost possession a few times but recovered well. They were better after the break but we defended our lead well," said Terzic, who coached for the first time in the Bundesliga in front of fans. Sometimes it's not possible to score more than one and you have to protect that clean sheet instead."

"He tried to play on but it was not possible," Terzic said. "We have to wait until tomorrow to have a clear diagnosis."

RB Leipzig dropped points in their first match of the Bundesliga season, drawing 1-1 against VfB Stuttgart on Sunday despite taking the lead early, they went on to miss a bagful of chances in the second half. Leipzig lost 5-3 to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup last week. The defending DFB Pokal winners got off to a flying start as 2021/22 Bundesliga Player of the Year Christopher Nkunku slotted the ball in the back of the net to take the lead in the eighth minute. Stuttgart gradually grew into the game and found space to attack, with Naouirou Ahamada's strike from the edge of the box levelling in the 31st minute with France's youth international first career goal. Dani Olmo also could not beat Mueller in the 73rd as Leipzig piled up a total of 27 efforts towards goal to Stuttgart's 11.

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