24th matchday
Victory at Union: BVB and Terzic get some breathing room
Karim Adeyemi scored Dortmund’s first goal in the away win in Berlin. photo
© Andreas Gora/dpa
The pressure on coach Terzic is great at BVB. In Berlin, Dortmund show well-known weaknesses, but strike efficiently.
Overall, a short period of pressure before half-time was enough for the runner-up to win. Otherwise, many problems have emerged over the last few weeks. In front of 22,012 spectators, Karim Adeyemi gave the guests the lead (41st minute). Ian Maatsen made the decision shortly before the end (90th).
Union loses for the first time at home under Bjelica
Despite much discussion about poor performances, the 3-2 defeat against Hoffenheim last weekend remains Borussia’s only defeat this year. Next Saturday BVB travels to Bremen (6.30 p.m./Sky).
For Union it is the first home defeat under coach Nenad Bjelica, who was hired last autumn. The Berliners only got one point from two home games in a row and failed to gain a better starting position in the relegation battle. Union will play against premier class candidate VfB Stuttgart on Friday (8.30 p.m./DAZN).
After the sobering performances of the previous weeks, Terzic was once again under a lot of pressure at BVB. Some media outlets were already predicting an “endgame” for him. Adeyemi was back in the starting eleven in the league for the first time since November. Marco Reus was only on the bench after providing two assists against Hoffenheim.
In addition, Dortmund had to do without their most dangerous man of the last few weeks. Donyell Malen was missing due to suspension. For the same reason, Union’s top scorer Robin Gosens was not on the field. Jérôme Roussillon replaced him in defense.
Union good, but not rewarding
The game was interrupted for a few minutes in the first minute due to dense clouds of smoke coming from the BVB block. After that, the guests had more possession of the ball, but once again lost the ball carelessly when the opponent pressed. Lucas Tousart shot just past the goal to the left after a backheel assist from Kevin Volland (6th).
The Berliners were clearly the more alert team. They won almost every second ball and repeatedly won the ball as Borussia built up the game. But the last play rarely found the right taker.
BVB initially had little to counter the aggressiveness, but got better towards the end of the first half. After a corner, Nico Schlotterbeck failed from the best position to goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow (35th).
Dortmund scores through Adeyemi and Maatsen
Then the Black and Yellows freed themselves well from Berlin’s pressing. The disorganized Union defense was unable to get into a duel against Adeyemi. His shot went off the bottom edge of the crossbar and into the goal. With his assist, Niclas Füllkrug managed his 19th direct goal involvement in his first 22 Bundesliga games for Dortmund. According to the data service provider Opta, only Erling Haaland (27) has managed more since 2004/2005, Reus the same number.
After the change, the Berliners took the initiative again. After a poke in the penalty area, it took a strong reflex from BVB keeper Alexander Meyer to prevent Volland from equalizing (52′).
But as in the first half, there was too often a lack of precision for dangerous shots. Shortly before the end, Meyer was there again against substitute Yorbe Vertessen (86th). After winning the ball against advanced Berliners, Maatsen ran towards the goal alone and gave Rönnow no chance.