The 3-3 draw in Frankfurt revealed clear weaknesses at Borussia Dortmund, but also showed the strengths of the new BVB. The duel against FC Bayern once again plays a key role. But before that, a difficult task awaits in the cup.
In a rollercoaster of emotions: Edin Terzic against Frankfurt.
Edin Terzic struggled with himself and his assessment of Borussia’s spectacular 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. The BVB coach had “mixed feelings” about the game and how it went.
Understandably, Dortmund, who were initially extremely vulnerable defensively, were already 0-2 behind after 24 minutes before they came back with luck and defense, had to chase down again after an avoidable mistake by Julian Brandt and then recovered thanks to Brandt’s later equalizer were able to get another point. “It was a very intense, a very impulsive game with a lot of decisions and a lot of goals. In the end it was a fair draw,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl, who campaigned to “award the point” in the 1909th Bundesliga game in the club’s history accept”.
Thanks to the draw with Eintracht, who last lost at home exactly a year ago – back then against BVB – BVB remained unbeaten this season. After the ninth matchday, this was only possible in the league in the 2002/03 and 2018/19 seasons. There are six wins and three draws in the black and yellow interim balance. With 21 points, Terzic’s team is in fourth place, four points behind Leverkusen, two behind FC Bayern, level on points with Stuttgart and one point ahead of Leipzig.
“It’s very close, which makes it exciting because everyone gets their points,” said Kehl, assessing the situation at the top of the table. At this point in the previous season, BVB was also fourth and also had four points less than the then leader Union Berlin. The big difference: Back then, Borussia had collected five points less than they do now and had already suffered three defeats.
Terzic’s adjustments are taking effect
The absolutely satisfactory score is closely linked to BVB’s significantly improved defense this season. Less sexy, but more successful – that’s how Terzic described the new style last week. In Frankfurt he said: “It’s not that easy to defeat us.” Kehl added: “We were able to maintain our series because we didn’t lose again because we came back again.” For the fourth time this season, BVB scored points after falling behind. On the one hand, this means that Dortmund still has problems controlling the game from the start. But it is also evidence of the Black and Yellows’ improved resilience, but also that Terzic is currently doing a good job of making the right adjustments in the game.
In Frankfurt, Terzic reacted with personnel changes and a system change because the left side of Ramy Bensebaini and Giovanni Reyna in particular seemed overwhelmed by Frankfurt’s pace. With success: Defensive stability increased after the break, even if Frankfurt remained dangerous on the counterattack. In addition, substitutes Youssoufa Moukoko, who made it 2-2, Brandt and Karim Adeyemi, who prepared the 3-3, each collected a scorer point. If it hadn’t been for Brandt’s avoidable mistake (Kehl’s quote: “That shouldn’t happen to him”), there would probably have been more than just a point, as BVB were clearly the better team in this phase.
Difficult cup task on Wednesday
It is therefore still difficult to categorize how good BVB is this season. There is undoubtedly potential for improvement, both in the game against the ball and in one’s own offensive game. Thanks to the improved handling of setbacks, the basis for another successful season has been laid – even if the competition from Leverkusen, Munich and Leipzig sometimes seems significantly further ahead. As is often the case, the duel with FC Bayern next Saturday plays a key role. If BVB survives this test in front of their own audience, it would be a big step in the right direction. If Borussia loses, however, the upward contact would be lost for the time being.
To make matters worse, BVB still has a difficult task to overcome in the cup on Wednesday: Then Hoffenheim, currently sixth in the league, will play in the second round match at Signal-Iduna-Park. On matchday six, Dortmund won the encounter away from home 3-1, but had to fight hard for victory. This time there are still some personnel question marks.
Kobel and Hummels struck
In Frankfurt, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had to be substituted in the 26th minute due to a collision with Nico Schlotterbeck. It is still unclear how severe the injury to his nose, which was hit by Schlotterbeck’s elbow, is. It is conceivable that substitute keeper Alexander Meyer will have to be in goal again, at least on Wednesday. Mats Hummels also had to be replaced in Frankfurt with an injury, captain Emre Can (hit on the thigh) and midfielder Felix Nmecha (muscular problems) were completely missing. The extent to which they will be available again against Hoffenheim is also still open.
2023-10-30 09:38:59
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