LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Interstat) — Borussia Dortmund opened its Bundesliga campaign with a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, overcoming a significant pregame projection that heavily favored the home side.

The match, played before a sellout crowd at BayArena, saw Dortmund secure the win with a pair of second-half goals after a defensive first half. The final result aligned perfectly with the scoreline forecast by Interstat’s game simulator, though it defied the same firm’s ELO system, which had given Leverkusen a 70.10 percent probability of victory.

The first half was a physical, cagey affair that produced more yellow cards than scoring chances. Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck was shown the first caution in the 11th minute for a tactical foul, setting the tone for a period defined by disrupted rhythm. Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman and Edmond Tapsoba also received yellow cards, with Tapsoba’s booking in the 40th minute proving immediately costly.

From the ensuing free kick, Dortmund broke the deadlock. Aaron Anselmino found space in the area and directed a header past the goalkeeper, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

The second half saw Dortmund double its advantage in the 65th minute. Karim Adeyemi, finding a pocket of space on the counter-attack, finished clinically to put his team in a commanding position.

Leverkusen pushed for a response and found a lifeline in the 83rd minute through substitute Christian Kofane, who scored to set up a tense finale. The goal immediately followed a yellow card issued to Dortmund’s Fábio Silva, one of several cautions in the game’s latter stages as the intensity escalated.

Despite sustained pressure from the home team in the final minutes, including seven minutes of stoppage time, Dortmund’s defense held firm. The match concluded with a flurry of emotions, culminating in a yellow card for Leverkusen’s Aleix García deep into added time.

The victory gives Borussia Dortmund a winning start to the Bundesliga season, its record now at one win and no losses. Bayer Leverkusen begins its campaign with a defeat, its record at no wins and one loss. Both teams see their overall records across all competitions mirror their league starts.