Weak start, strong reaction: Borussia Dortmund has averted the looming autumn crisis with a lot of passion for the time being. After recent worrying performances and three Bundesliga games without a win, coach Edin Terzic’s team managed a spectacular 4:2 (3:2) in the Western Classic against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Even an early 2-0 deficit thanks to goals from Rocco Reitz (13′) and Manu Kone (28′) didn’t upset BVB this time.
In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, Marcel Sabitzer (30th), Niclas Füllkrug (32nd), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (45th) and Donyell Malen (90th 7) ensured the celebrated turnaround on Saturday. The success noticeably improved the mood one day before the general meeting and strengthened confidence for the Champions League appearance at AC Milan on Tuesday.
On the other hand, the upward trend in guests has ended. After four competitive games without defeat, the Gladbach team once again came away empty-handed in Dortmund – as they have done in the last ten guest games at the same venue.
Early backlog
“We not only want to win the game today, but also give something back to our spectators,” coach Terzic announced on Sky shortly before kick-off, with a view to the weak performance in Stuttgart. However, the starting eleven, which had been changed to four positions, found it difficult to get into the game. Already in the 3rd minute, Gregor Kobel prevented the early deficit with a shot from Luca Netz.
Almost ten minutes later, however, the Dortmund goalkeeper also had no chance. The BVB defense was outwitted with a simple through ball from Alassane Plea to Reitz. U21 national player Reitz refined the attack with a low shot into the far corner.
The early deficit caused problems for BVB and increased the uncertainty that had arisen in Stuttgart. A goal from Plea to give the guests a supposed 2-0 lead was disallowed due to a narrow offside position. Nevertheless, Gladbach stayed on the trigger and shocked BVB once again. Kone left his opponents Mats Hummels and Julian Ryerson standing and scored from 14 meters.
Dortmund is catching up
Only then did BVB wake up and react with a lot of passion in the pouring rain. The deficit was equalized within three minutes. First, the Austrian international Sabitzer dropped a cross from Julian Brandt into the opponent’s goal. Shortly afterwards, Bynoe-Gittens, who had been brought into the team to replace Karim Adeyemi, who was ill, headed the ball to goal scorer Füllkrug. The striker’s subsequent shot from 14 meters into the far corner brought Dortmund back into the game.
On top of that. Shortly before the break, BVB struck again. After a bad pass from Kone, the ball landed via Reus and Füllkrug to young star Bynoe-Gittens, who shot his team into the lead with a well-placed low shot.
Unlike the first half, the second half started less wildly. BVB tried to calm the game with a lot of possession and even had two chances through Füllkrug (52′) and Bynoe-Gittens (54′). When Reus hit the crossbar with a free kick (56′), the score was particularly close to 4-2. The host’s lack of exploiting opportunities encouraged Gladbach to be more offensive. But despite all their efforts, the guests were unsuccessful. Instead, Malen put the final point for BVB with his counterattack goal.
