BVB did not get more than 1: 1 in Augsburg: Coach Marco Rose’s team is sovereign for long stretches, but still concedes the equalizer – and can no longer pull themselves together afterwards.
Borussia Dortmund must finally call off the pursuit of leaders Bayern Munich. Coach Marco Rose’s team, which was severely weakened by replacements but was convincing for a long time, conceded a late equalizer at FC Augsburg through Noah Sarenren Bazee (78th) to make it 1-1 (1-0) and is now eight points behind the German series champions.
BVB had taken the lead in front of 15,330 spectators (35th) thanks to the good Thorgan Hazard Hazard, but failed to extend the lead, especially at the beginning of the second half – there was also a crossbar and a post hit. After failing in all cup competitions, Dortmund will now have to limit themselves to securing their place in the Champions League.
The draw is a small but important step forward for Augsburg. Coach Markus Weinzierl’s team is not in the relegation zone for the first time since matchday 20 and because of the better goal difference compared to Hertha BSC.
Six failures at BVB
Dortmund had arrived with great personal worries. In addition to Erling Haaland, Manuel Akanji, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Giovanni Reyna, Marco Reus and Thomas Meunier were also missing: the two were injured on Thursday when BVB was eliminated in the intermediate round of the Europa League at Glasgow Rangers. “There’s no point in whining, we still have a good team on the field,” said Rose before the game at DAZN.
In fact, despite aggressive Augsburgers, his team put in combative and playful accents early on. Mahmoud Dahoud, who was also strong, failed with a first shot at the attentive goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz (13th). From this point on, BVB was the superior team, Hazard’s lead after a strong individual performance on Dahoud’s template was foreseeable and deserved.
Because the Augsburgers were now increasingly offensive, there were more spaces for Dortmund – and chances: Gikiewicz deflected a shot from Donyell Malen just over the crossbar (51st). Shortly thereafter, Malen hit the post from a tight angle (55′).
FCA coach Weinzierl called on three central defenders and brought in Ricardo Pepi, who had been goalless so far during the winter break, for attack. His team also went to work with commitment, they were looking for a quick way to the goal, but after an early header chance by Michael Gregoritsch (10th), they were mostly busy with defensive work against a long-term goal-oriented Dortmund team. In the last half hour, BVB was threatened with increasing difficulties, their strength was dwindling. Augsburg increased the pressure – and was rewarded by Sarenren Bazee. An open exchange of blows then developed.