Bundesliga
Good luck, little class: BVB averts a false start
Dortmund’s players thanked the spectators for their support after the home win against 1. FC Köln. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
Right at the start of the season, the title aspirant begins to falter. At 1-0 over Cologne, BVB needs a lot of luck. The winning goal was scored by a professional who shouldn’t have been there.
Only a late lucky goal brought the victory. Unalloyed joy at the successful one That’s why Dortmund didn’t feel the start of the season. “We’re not satisfied, but we’re happy,” said newcomer Felix Nmecha, describing the emotional state of everyone involved between thoughtfulness and relief.
The first step on the mission to overcome the title trauma was obviously difficult. 84 days after the playful championship, football teacher Edin Terzic’s team struggled to a 1-0 (0-0) win over 1. FC Köln. The odd goal by Donyell Malen (88th minute) saved the runners-up from last season from further frustration, but it could not allay concerns about a tricky season.
Dortmund with the happy ending against Cologne
The Dutchman’s goal against Cologne’s courageous team, who were better in the second half, fits into the image of a flattering success. Just a few minutes earlier, the Bundesliga top scorer from 2023 had been available to be substituted on the sidelines, but remained on the pitch because Terzic had to change his plans at short notice. “Donny, and that’s the crazy story of the game, shouldn’t be on the pitch anymore – then he was spot on,” enthused the BVB coach.
Dortmund’s luck was rounded off by the fact that the Dutchman didn’t hit the ball properly with the volley and used his supporting leg to put it into the net. Guest trainer Steffen Baumgart couldn’t help but comment with a sarcastic undertone: “You have to train for a long time to shoot the ball from your standing leg so that it goes in.”
Malen scored his tenth Bundesliga goal this calendar year and thus ensured BVB’s ninth win of the season in a row. But the shot at luck couldn’t hide the fact that Borussia didn’t act like a title aspirant. The sluggish and flawed play structure confirmed all those skeptics in their assessment that the unfortunate showdown of the past season could continue to have a performance-reducing effect.
“We were sluggish, we had no energy on the pitch,” admitted Emre Can to Sky. However, the new BVB captain did not want to make a connection to the painful season finale at the end of May against Mainz (2: 2): “It doesn’t matter anymore, it’s a new season. It’s part of our history now, we can’t change it .”
BVB keeper Kobel with a white vest
In addition to Malen, BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also played a key role in the victory when he saved his team from falling behind when the Cologne joker Sargis Adamyan (55./79.) had a chance. “Gregor got us out of trouble and made sensational saves twice,” praised national player Julian Brandt.
Like Can and Brandt, Sebastian Kehl didn’t feel like glossing over things, but didn’t want to overrate the poor performance. “That wasn’t our benchmark. But we’re not worried. It was the first day of the game, so many teams are still struggling,” said the sports director on Sunday at the TV station Bild. The supposedly easy opening program with upcoming games in Bochum and against Heidenheim could help them to find their way back to the good form of the first half of the year. Kehl is in good spirits that BVB will soon show a different face: “Don’t worry, we’ll improve.”