Champions League
BVB with a “great reaction” after Bayern debacle
BVB around Julian Brandt, Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle (lr) prevailed against Newcastle. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
After the 4-0 defeat against Bayern, Borussia Dortmund showed the hoped-for reaction in the Champions League. Thanks to the success against Newcastle United, BVB is on course for the round of 16.
Edin Terzic seemed to have been relieved of heavy burdens. Proud and satisfied concluded Borussia Dortmund’s coach embraces each of his professionals. Three days after the debacle against FC Bayern, his team showed the hoped-for reaction in a 2-0 (1-0) win against Newcastle United in the Champions League. Niclas Füllkrug (26th minute) with the first premier class goal of his career and Julian Brandt (79th) ensured BVB took a big step towards the knockout round.
“That was a very, very important step and above all a great reaction after the game on Saturday,” said Füllkrug afterwards on Prime Video. “We had a very, very high intensity in counter-pressing and took advantage of the decisive situations.” Terzic was also satisfied. “It was a very good performance by the entire team today,” he said: “A well-deserved victory.”
As in the 1-0 win in England two weeks earlier, Terzic’s team put on a mature performance at home in front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park. Thanks to the successful reaction to the Bayern debacle, BVB (7 points) moved past Newcastle (4) and is on course for the round of 16 for the first time in the difficult Group F after a mixed start. Because Paris Saint-Germain subsequently lost 1-2 against AC Milan, Dortmund are even first before the game in Italy on November 28th. Paris is second with 6 points, Milan is third with 5 points, ahead of Newcastle.
Strong BVB start
BVB started against the English in a way that one could not necessarily have expected after the debacle against Bayern: courageous and committed. Borussia clearly tried to react positively, Newcastle could hardly get out of their own half in the early stages. Dortmund pressed high and won the decisive duels in midfield. The British, plagued by many injuries, did not play at all.
The good initial phase was rewarded after less than 30 minutes. Füllkrug won the ball in his own half and stimulated a Dortmund counterattack. Over several stops, the ball finally landed back at the new signing, who scored his first Champions League goal from close range after preparation from Marcel Sabitzer. So everything started according to plan for the hosts.
Coach Terzic responded to the poor performance against Bayern with three changes to the starting line-up. Fortunately for Dortmund, the recently weak Füllkrug was there again from the start, but Marco Reus and Donyell Malen, like Marius Wolf, were initially surprisingly on the bench. Although the slightly changed BVB team got off to a good start, Terzic’s team gave up a little control of the game after taking the lead.
Stable defense
Dortmund withdrew and let Newcastle come. After the strong 1-0 win against Arsenal FC at the weekend, the guests needed some time to find their way into the game. The fact that it finally worked out better was mainly due to the fact that Dortmund lost crucial duels in midfield. BVB’s defense didn’t really falter at first.
Things got really tricky for the first time in the 56th minute when ex-Hoffenheim player Joelinton was completely free to head the ball after a cross in the Dortmund penalty area – but put the ball just wide of the goal. The Magpies had reacted at half-time and brought in offensive players Anthony Gordon and Miguel Almirón. The guests wanted an equalizer, but only BVB could reward themselves.
The hosts acted a little more passively, but they never gave up their defensive stability. And that paid off. After a free kick for Newcastle in the BVB penalty area, Karim Adeyemi played a brilliant pass to Brandt, who marched unchallenged towards the visitors’ goal and slotted it in ice-cold.