The passionate atmosphere in St. James’ Park may have been familiar to the Borussia Dortmund football players from their own home games. As soon as the teams arrived, the spectators created a deafening noise, so that even the Champions League anthem, which was obligatorily loud, could hardly be heard.
However, the fans in the steep steel stands were not predominantly dressed in black and yellow as in Dortmund. But in black and white, the club colors of their opponents Newcastle United. The impressive stadium choreography of the Magpies, the Magpies, included several motifs, including a typical motivational saying of the Geordies, as the people of Newcastle are called because of their dialect: “Howay, the lads!” Forward, people.
This set the direction for the game. An open duel actually developed between the two clubs, whose CVs are quite similar in terms of tradition, fan support and sporting ups and downs – and Borussia Dortmund ended up winning 1-0 (1-0) although happily, but not undeservedly. won. It was the Ruhrpottklub’s first victory on the island in over 10 years. Thanks to their debut success in the premier class this season, BVB suddenly changed their starting position for a place in the round of 16. With four points they are now ahead of Newcastle in second place in the group behind Paris St. Germain.
In contrast to the sobering opening defeat in Paris, this time the team, which was well adjusted by coach Edin Terzic, did not back down. This has been the club’s core problem for years with complicated away trips in the Champions League, especially to England. Since the departure of coach Jürgen Klopp, BVB has recently lost all five premier class duels against Premier League representatives on English soil (goal difference 3:12). The Dortmund team always kept up nicely and sometimes even dominated the action. But in order to really pose a threat to opponents, they often lack calmness, resilience and self-understanding. Exactly the qualities that BVB suddenly displayed with their backs to the black and white wall in Newcastle.
To increase internal stability, Terzic relied on the robust midfield duo Emre Can and Marcel Sabitzer. Both of them know from their time at Liverpool FC and Manchester United what momentum the crowd in football-crazy Newcastle can generate during a game – and they brought this experience into their team from the start. Can directed the defense and Sabitzer, who was slightly ahead of him, coordinated the offense. The restless back and forth between the penalty areas suited both of them with their running and assertiveness. Together they held BVB together and created neat combinations going forward. Attacker Donyell Malen almost took the lead in the second minute after a counterattack based on an assist from Sabitzer.
Lukas Nmecha later used a similarly determined counter-attack in the 45th minute to take the deserved half-time lead. When he won the ball, Sabitzer this time harassed his opponent Anthony Gordon in the center circle, so that teammate Nico Schlotterbeck was able to win the duel. Instead of standing still after his pass, Schlotterbeck started in his best game of the season for BVB and provided the assist for Nmecha. It was Dortmund’s first goal of this Champions League season. A setback for BVB followed: Emre Can, the captain, had to be replaced injured in the 42nd minute, as had Newcastle center forward Alexander Isak, who replaced Callum Wilson. He was replaced by Salih Özcan, who was more offensively inclined, meaning that Sabitzer was increasingly involved in defensive work. From then on, BVB was not always able to close the spaces that had been created in the center.
Despite the lead, the level of difficulty increased for BVB in the second half. This was not only due to United’s increasingly hectic and unpredictable attacks, but also to the failure of their own leader Can.
But the many interface passes were intercepted by the first-class and attentive back four around Mats Hummels. Newcastle only broke through twice: after losing the ball in their own penalty area, Wilson was able to equalize in the 57th minute. From close range he was denied by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who made a spectacular save. And in the 87th minute with a shoulder header that slipped off the crossbar. Coach Terzic prepared his team for the hard-to-control Newcastle constant pressure phase towards the end of the game by strengthening the defense with Niklas Süle, who was strong in the air. BVB had to accept another shot from the crossbar by Gordon in the last action of the game – but Hummels then cleared the rebound in front of the goal line.
As a result, Dortmund achieved their first Champions League away win in England since October 2013, a 2-1 win at Arsenal. After the final whistle, the Newcastle fans quickly left St. James’ Park. Only the Dortmunders dressed in black and yellow remained.
