Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen 1 Borussia Dortmund 3

Borussia Dortmund increased their lead on top of the Bundesliga to 13 points after a crushing 3-1 win away at nearest rival Bayer Leverkusen.

Dortmund have lost just twice in the league this season, and it will take an extraordinary effort form the chasing pack, which includes Leverkusen and Mainz, to reel them in.

The game marked a return to football for Germany captain Michael Ballack, who was an unused substitute for Leverkusen in his first game back from a fractured shinbone he suffered in September.

After a goalless first half at BayArena, Dortmund sprung to life in the second period and took the lead just four minutes after the break thanks to a goal from striker Kevin Grosskreutz.

Polish defender Lukasz Piszczek launched a long throw into the penalty area and after some calamitous defending from Leverkusen’s Daniel Schwaab, the ball broke for Grosskreutz who coolly slotted a low shot past Rene Adler.

Grosskreutz made it 2-0 just four minutes later when he pounced on some more slack defending from Leverkusen before slamming a shot from the edge of the area.

And the 22-year-old had a hand in Dortmund’s third just two minutes later when his tackle on Manuel Freidrich saw the ball fall for Mario Goetze, whose shot went through the legs of Adler to make it 3-0.

Leverkusen salvaged some pride 10 minutes from the end when Renato Augusto ‘s cross found Stefan Kiessling at the back post and the German international steered the ball home, but it was too little too late for the hosts, who fell to third behind Mainz on goal difference.

Mainz have the chance to close the gap on Dortmund when they travel to Stuttgart on Saturday.