Leverkusen triumph in Dortmund, Heidenheim end long drought

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand gestures from the bench during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa

Bayer Leverkusen's Robert Andrich (2nd R) celebrates after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park. Bernd Thissen/dpa