29th matchday
Double pack from Sabitzer secures BVB victory when they are outnumbered
Scored twice in Dortmund’s victory in Mönchengladbach: Marcel Sabitzer (M). photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
With a hard-fought victory in the minority, Borussia Dortmund remains in the race for fourth place.
There are three days left before the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League against Atlético Madrid Borussia Dortmund is also on course for the premier league in the Bundesliga. After two defeats in a row at Borussia Mönchengladbach, BVB won 2-1 (2-1) and remains on the heels of fourth-placed RB Leipzig with the same points.
Fifth place in the table may also be enough for Champions League qualification. In front of 54,042 spectators in the sold-out Borussia Park, Marcel Sabitzer (22nd/28th/foul penalty) scored for Dortmund. The hosts scored through Maximilian Wöber (36th).
BVB coach Edin Terzic decided on a large rotation between the two games against Atlético Madrid. Jadon Sancho was unwell at short notice, meaning six new players were put into the starting line-up.
Filling pitcher replacement Haller injured
The recently unsuccessful center forward Niclas Füllkrug also initially stayed out; Sébastien Haller moved into the center of the attack in his place. However, the 29-year-old had to leave the field injured after ten minutes. Terzic had to change again and substituted Youssoufa Moukoko instead of Füllkrug.
In the 104th derby between the two Borussias, the Gladbachers had prepared for Dortmund’s strong offensive and, as they did in the 3-1 win in Wolfsburg, relied on a five-man defense chain plus two defensive midfielders. The Japanese Ko Itakura moved from the center of defense to midfield and once again solved the task there well.
Sabitzer double pack within six minutes
But a long ball from Nico Schlotterbeck to Sabitzer, who entered the Gladbach penalty area from the left and outwitted goalkeeper Jonas Omlin from a tight angle, was enough for the guests to take the lead. Six minutes later, Sabitzer secured his brace to make it 2-0 with a converted penalty kick. Schlotterbeck had previously been hit in the foot by Nathan Ngoumou.
In the varied game, the hosts scored the next goal with a header from Wöber after a corner from Franck Honorat. It was already the tenth preparation for a goal by the Frenchman, who was signed at the start of the season. The guests always remained dangerous even with greater pressure from Gladbach. Young Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in particular repeatedly caused unrest in the Gladbach defense with his dribbling. We also liked the prudent Julian Brandt at the headquarters.
Referee Florian Badstübner withdrew another penalty for Dortmund, which Sabitzer had already converted to make it 3-1, after a video check. Shortly afterwards, Karim Adeyemi had to leave the pitch for repeated foul play, putting his team outnumbered. The Gladbachers brought in two more strikers, Jordan Siebatcheu and Tomas Cvancara, but were unable to equalize.