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Dortmund, which reached the Champions League final last season, has now won six of its last seven league games to climb from 11th to fifth, and is now just one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg.

However, Leverkusen started better and took a deserved lead through Jeremie Frimpong in the 30th minute in what is Xabi Alonso's final home match in the dugout.

The Spaniard announced that he will leave at the end of the season, having joined in October 2022 and led them to the domestic double last season without defeat while also reaching the Europa League final.

Gregor Kobel kept Dortmund in the game in the first half, making vital saves, but after Leverkusen's goal, the visitors never looked back.

It took just three minutes for Dortmund to equalise, with Julian Brandt slotting in from a Karim Adeyemi cutback. They then doubled their lead in the 43rd minute, winning possession in Leverkusen's half, with Julian Ryerson completing the move with a low finish from the right.

Amine Adli headed against the woodwork on the stroke of half-time, but Leverkusen struggled to create anything of note after the break.

The host's lethargic play saw it lose possession again in the 73rd minute, with Marcel Sabitzer feeding the lightning-quick Brandt picking out Adeyemi to make it 3-1.

Before Leverkusen had time to regroup, it conceded another goal as Serhou Guirassy bagged his 20th league goal of the season 77 minutes in.

Jonas Hofmann halved the deficit in stoppage time, with his header bouncing in off the woodwork, but it was too little, too late for Leverkusen.

Dortmund hosts relegated Holstein Kiel next week, with its Champions League hopes just out of its own hands.