The mighty south stand was still shaking minutes after the Torgala. “Take off the Bavarians’ lederhosen!” rang out loudly from the Yellow Wall. The 6: 1 (4: 1) over 1. FC Köln was good for the Dortmund fans and professionals as an encouragement for the Bundesliga summit on April 1 in Munich.
Intoxicated by the wonderful atmosphere in the stadium and Borussia’s ongoing winning streak with 28 out of a possible 30 points, Marius Wolf, who was called up to the national team for the first time, felt little desire for understatement. “We know what’s at stake after the international break. We’ll go to Munich to win there,” he said.
Football Germany can look forward to a real top duel for the first time in years. Finally, the now dimensionally stable Revierclub shakes the throne of the sole ruler. For captain Marco Reus, this fuels the anticipation of the Bundesliga Clásico and the hope that his team in Munich, after sometimes crushing defeats in the past eight league duels, will not go down without a chance this time with a shameful goal difference of 6:33: “In two weeks we have We’ve got a really great game ahead of us. Hopefully we’ll be ready.” The 33-year-old veteran didn’t want to talk about a final for the title, despite all the explosiveness: “In general, I wouldn’t say that it’s decisive, but it’s very important.”
Double pack from BVB captain Reus
Against Cologne, Reus helped Dortmund’s frustration with the Champions League defeat against Chelsea (0: 2) and the damper in the Revierderby at Schalke (2: 2) in time for the duel between the German industry leaders. Not only his brace (32nd/70th minute), but also his answer to the question about the status of the months-long negotiations about his contract, which expires at the end of the season, was well received by the fans: “In the past few weeks, months and years I’ve said before that I’d like to end my career here. I feel really good, we’ll see.”
Born in Dortmund, Reus provided arguments for staying. The offensive all-rounder, who was not nominated for the national team this time, scored 160 and 161 competitive goals for his home club. He passed Michael Zorc (159) and is the best shooter in Dortmund professional football. In the Bundesliga, Reus now has 150 goals (114 for BVB, 36 for Gladbach).
In addition to Reus, other professionals are also on the up and could contribute to a coup in the Allianz Arena. Raphael Guerreiro, who was once again ordered from full-back to midfield, also earned top marks and, like in the derby against Schalke, contributed a goal (15th). If the Portuguese continues to act at this level, BVB would be well advised to extend this contract, which expires at the end of the season, and to plan Guerreiro permanently in the creative headquarters: “Of course, we gave some thought to that,” said sporting director Sebastian Kehl. We’re in talks. Let’s just wait and see.”
The fact that attacker and goalscorer Donyell Malen (36th) finally seems to be on the mend and Sébastien Haller ended his goal drought that had lasted since the beginning of February rounded off the successful evening of football for Dortmund. The two goals scored by Haller (17th/69th), who suffered from cancer last summer, were particularly loudly celebrated. “It will give him a boost. A striker thrives on goals,” commented Kehl. Haller’s first BVB brace should dispel the doubts about his qualities that have been growing lately. “What came up subliminally was not justified,” said Kehl.
Cameraman injured in pyro incident
The game was overshadowed by a pyro incident. The ignition in the Cologne spectator block, which lasted almost the entire game, was not without consequences. A Sky cameraman was injured in the eye. Therefore, according to the Dortmund police, criminal proceedings were initiated.
“It must never happen that someone who is doing his job gets injured. Then you have to talk about it very clearly,” complained Cologne’s licensed director Thomas Kessler. Coach Steffen Baumgart reacted no less angrily and called for a new strategy for dealing with pyrotechnics: “The problem will definitely not be solved the way we are currently tackling it, we see that every weekend. So maybe a few smart people should sit down and think about a different strategy,” he told ARD.
