Leverkusen triumph in Dortmund, Heidenheim end long drought

BVB fans watch the game in silence, with their flags rolled up during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa

Bayer Leverkusen claimed an important 1-0 Bundesliga victory at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday to boost their top four hopes while Heidenheim got a glimmer of hope at the other end of the table.

Captain Robert Andrich fired home from long range in the 42nd minute after a mistake from the hosts as they won for the third time in a row in Dortmund.

Leverkusen rose to fifth, one point behind VfB Stuttgart who host SV Hamburg on Sunday. RB Leipzig in third are four points ahead of Leverkusen after labouring to a 1-0 over Borussia Mönchengladbach from Yan Diomande's 81st-minute winner.

The top four qualify for the Champions League, and Leipzig and Stuttgart are among Leverkusen's opponents in the final five matchdays.

"You can only reach the top four with victories. We have it in our own hands but we will need points. The main aim is that Bayer Leverkusen reach the Champions League," Andrich told Sky TV.

Dortmund are second but could slip 12 points behind leaders Bayern Munich who are at third last St Pauli later on Saturday.

Other games

Heidenheim kept up their dim survival hopes when they beat Union Berlin 3-1 from Mathias Honsak's first-half brace and Budu Zivzivadze. They ended a run of 15 games without victory and moved within six points of St Pauli in the relegation play-off spot.

Second last Wolfsburg are just two points above Heidenheim after losing 2-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt for a 12th game without victory. Oscar Højlund and Arnaud Kalimuendo scored for Frankfurt, Dženan Pejčinović got a consolation goal in stoppage time.

The other Sunday games are Cologne v Werder Bremen and Mainz v Freiburg. Augsburg and Hoffenheim drew 2-2 on Friday.

Crucial win for Leverkusen

Leverkusen could not afford defeat in Dortmund in their top four push but the hosts had the first chance, only for Daniel Svensson's effort headed away on the goal-line by Loïc Badé.

The visitors grew into the game and had a first chance from Christian Kofane after a mistake from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The next blunder came in the 42nd when Andrich intercepted a pass from Ramy Bensebaini and drilled home for 1-0 into the bottom left corner from 28 metres.

Patrik Schick was denied a second by Kobel on the hour while Dortmund fought hard to avoid a third season defeat but Serhou Guirassy hit the crossbar in the 83rd.

"We did a very good job after the first 15 minutes," Andrich said after Leverkusen stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Leipzig leave it late

Leipzig were denied an early lead when David Raum's seemingly attempted cross hit the far right post but they were then frustrated for a long time by Gladbach's defence and especilly goalkeeper Nicolas Moritz.

But the breakthrough came in the 81st when Christoph Baumgartner released Diomande on the counter and the teenager drilled the winner into the far right corner.

Bayer Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza and Borussia Dortmund's Maximilian Beier battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa

Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck and Bayer Leverkusen's Christian Kofane battle for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa

(L-R) Heidenheim's Stefan Schimmer, Union Berlin goalkeeper Frederik Roennow, Heidenheim's Patrick Mainka, and Heidenheim's Mathias Honsak celebrate after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FC Union Berlin at Voith-Arena. Harry Langer/dpa

Heidenheim's Stefan Schimmer (L) and Heidenheim's Mathias Honsak celebrate after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FC Union Berlin at Voith-Arena. Harry Langer/dpa

Heidenheim's Mathias Honsak (C) and his teammates celebrate their side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and 1. FC Union Berlin at Voith-Arena. Harry Langer/dpa