31st matchday
BVB remains in the title race: 6-0 gala against Wolfsburg
Two packers among themselves: Karim Adeyemi and Jude Bellingham (r) celebrate the 4-0 win. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
BVB keeps their nerves in the title race with Bayern. In the 6-0 win over Wolfsburg, the second in the table played big and reduced the gap to Munich to one point.
The title chance preserved, the frustration driven away with magic football – Borussia Dortmund can still hope for a happy ending in the master duel with Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern. Thanks to the excellent 6:0 (3:0) over VfL Wolfsburg, coach Edin Terzic’s team is only one point behind Munich.
Led by the outstanding Karim Adeyemi and Jude Bellingham, BVB showed a positive reaction a week after a disappointing 1-1 draw at VfL Bochum that cost them top spot. In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, Adeyemi (14th/59th minute), Sébastien Haller (29th), Donyell Malen (37th) and Bellingham (54th/86th) scored the deserved victory.
Dependent on support
With three games left against Mönchengladbach, in Augsburg and against Mainz, the Revierclub still has to hope for a blunder from the defending champion. At least he withstood the test of nerves and followed suit the day after Bayern’s 2-1 win in Bremen. On the other hand, the wolves missed the leap into the European Cup ranks after two previous wins.
The pressure caused by the Bayern victory was only slightly noticeable in Dortmund. With great commitment they took over the direction and immediately put a lot of pressure on the last convincing guests. This courage was rewarded early. Adeyemi was there after a cross from left-back Julian Ryerson and gave VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels no chance with a well-placed header.
However, the 0:1 had little effect on Wolfsburg. Patrick Wimmer (20th) had a great chance to equalize quickly on the counterattack, but failed because of BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. In return, BVB also missed an opportunity when the fast Malen appeared free in front of the VfL goal, but played an inaccurate pass to Bellingham, who had run with them.
However, the guests were not up to the great joy of playing Dortmund, who obviously tried to make amends after the setback from Bochum. Above all, the high speed of the two BVB attackers Adeyemi and Malen repeatedly caused confusion in the Wolfsburg cover. A solo by Adeyemi followed by a cross was used by Haller from close range for a 2-0 lead.
BVB made it 3-0 in a similar manner, but this time from the other, right attacking side. Julian Brandt, brilliantly staged by Marius Wolf, served Malen from the Netherlands, who only had to slide the ball into the empty goal from six yards out.
Dortmund were not satisfied with the 3-0 break. With fast combination football, they showed the North Germans the limits. The strong Bellingham scored the goal of the day with a powerful shot from around 20 meters. Although Casteels steered the ball to the top edge of the crossbar, he was unable to prevent the goal. A defensive error by Sebastian Bornauw fit into the image of the faltering Wolfsburg. After a pass from Haller, Adeyemi scored his second goal. BVB could get over the fact that the outstanding attacker shot a penalty kick over the goal five minutes later in view of the clear lead. The strong Bellingham then set the final point with his second goal of the day.