A second-half goal from Alex Grimaldo sent Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-0 home win over Mainz, closing the gap with league leaders Bayern Munich to one point. With half the season played, Dortmund sit ninth,

A second-half goal from Alex Grimaldo sent Bayer Leverkusen to a 1-0 home win over Mainz on Tuesday, closing the gap with league leaders Bayern Munich to one point.Xabi Alonso's defending champions were dominant against an in-form Mainz but were held at bay until Grimaldo produced a stunning free-kick after 48 minutes.

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen only managed a narrow 1-0 victory against Mainz but that was enough to keep them close to leaders Bayern Munich. Leverkusen failed to find a way through in-form Mainz in the first half but Alejandro Grimaldo finally broke the deadlock with the winner in the 48th minute.

Bayer Leverkusen's on one of those runs again. Borussia Dortmund looks a shadow of its former self. The two standout German teams from last season are on opposite trajectories as the pressure mounts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.