Bayer Leverkusen squandered the opportunity to go clear at the Bundesliga summit as they drew with Dortmund.
Bundesliga leaders frustrated by Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen squandered the opportunity to go clear at the Bundesliga summit as they were held at home by Borussia Dortmund.
The hosts went a goal behind when Lucas Barrios scored in the eighth minute, before securing a point courtesy of Manuel Friedrich's equaliser in the second half.
They could not go on to win though and are therefore just one point ahead of second-placed Hamburg - who now have a game in hand.
Leverkusen debutant Lars Bender had a wonderful chance to mark the occasion in style in only the second minute. But after Eren Derdiyok's pass had set him up from the edge of the penalty area, he put his shot wide.
Bender and his new employers soon had more reason for regret when Barrios got on the end of Nelson Valdez's cross and headed low past Rene Adler to put Dortmund in front.
Patrick Owomoyela might have doubled the lead just after the half-hour but blazed his right-foot shot high and wide.
Four minutes from half-time, Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia headed wide from a good position - and Derdiyok tested Roman Weidenfeller with a shot from distance, comfortably saved soon after the break.
But Friedrich made no mistake when he headed low past Weidenfeller, from a cross by Tranquillo Barnetta.
Hyypia missed with another header, and Stefan Kiessling could not beat Weidenfeller in similar circumstances in the 79th minute.
