Status: 15.09.2021 8:43 p.m.
Borussia Dortmund started the Champions League with a win. In Istanbul near Besiktas, Jude Bellingham was particularly convincing. The only thing they won’t be happy about in Dortmund is the final phase.
In the first half Bellingham used a direct pass from Thomas Meunier to lead (20th), in stoppage time of the first section the Englishman prepared the 2-0 through Erling Haaland (45th + 3) with a nice single action. Only in stoppage time did Francisco Montero cut the score to 1: 2 for Besiktas.
BVB coach Marco Rose was able to fall back on Mats Hummels, who also missed parts of the preparation due to patellar tendon problems and so far only had a few minutes of playing time in the current season. “Mats is very important, he knows games like that,” said the coach before the game.
And it quickly looked as if the national player was still behind in training. Because shortly after the kick-off, Besiktas attacker Michy Batshuayi flashed his class: After a long ball from Miralem Pjanic from midfield, the ex-Dortmund player needed exactly two ball contacts, on the one hand to turn around Hummels and with his twisting shot with the left almost to To score 1-0. But BVB keeper Gregor Kobel threw up his arm and prevented Dortmund from falling behind.
First half: Rose’s offensive plan is working
What none of the 20,000 spectators in the stadium could have suspected at the time: It was Besiktas’ only chance in section one. Because Dortmund’s offensive direction with double top (Haaland and Donyell Malen) and a diamond with Marco Reus in the ten position put the hosts under a lot of pressure – with success.
In the middle of the first half, BVB had finally given up respect for the emotional atmosphere: At first, a combination of Julian Brandt, Reus and Haaland was lacking precision, but then Borussia showed their chocolate side: After a pass from Mahmoud Dahoud from the central midfield let Meunier bounce from the right for Bellingham, who shot in from the half-right position in the penalty area with a nice movement with a flat right to the 0: 1.
BVB continues – Bellingham with a gala performance
And Dortmund went straight after: First Haaland forgave, seconds later Besiktas goalie Ersin prevented the higher deficit for the Turks with a reflex after a deflected shot from Reus.
But then it was Bellingham again, who played a major role in the 2-0 for black and yellow: After a throw-in from Raphael Guerreiro from the left, the Briton danced his opponent in the penalty area and fit perfectly to Haaland, who was lurking six meters in front of the goal : Direct acceptance with the left, Ersin had no chance this time.
Besiktas after the break with more play
Even after the break (only Dortmund change: Axel Witsel for Julian Brandt), Dortmund did not let up: Guerreiro and Dahoud tried long-range shots: unsuccessful. And besiktas? Didn’t give up. The largely inconspicuous Miralem Pjanic and Rachid Ghezzal tried each other from a distance, but without endangering the Dortmund leadership.
However, the concentration of the guests increasingly waned – which in the 67th and 68th minutes would almost have been punished by two chances by Batshuayi: Once again Kobel destroyed the Belgian’s chance, then Batshuayi narrowly missed a pass.
In the end, BVB still has to tremble
Around the 70th minute, coach Rose joined the action again: With the substitutions of Hummels (battered), Bellingham and Malen, he disrupted the rhythm of the increasingly strengthened Istanbulers. Haaland almost made it 3-0 after substitute Youssoufa Moukoko made a perfect pass – but Ersin was there again.
Suddenly there was tension again in the stoppage time, which was set to seven minutes: After a free kick from Pjanic from the right side, defender Fancisco Montero came free to the header and reduced the score to 1: 2 from a Turkish point of view. In the final phase, the home side tried again with all their might – but BVB saved the victory over time.
For Dortmund, the Champions League will continue in two weeks at home against Sporting Lisbon (September 28, 2021, 9 p.m.), Besiktas will play at Ajax Amsterdam. In the Bundesliga, BVB will play against Union Berlin at home on Sunday (19.09.2021, 5.30 p.m.).
Source: sportschau.de