What a fight for the title: Borussia Dortmund took advantage of FC Bayern’s mistake and drew level on points with the leaders and 1. FC Union Berlin in the championship race of the Bundesliga.
Coach Edin Terzic’s team defeated Hertha BSC 4-1 (2-0). Four days after the 1-0 win in the Champions League against Chelsea, BVB showed their strong form again and underpinned their claims as Bayern challengers with goals worth seeing. Karim Adeyemi with the hoe (27th minute), Donyell Malen (31st), captain Marco Reus (76th) with a dream free kick and Julian Brandt (90th) scored for BVB in a convincing victory.
Dortmund has already won its eighth competitive game in a row. However, Adeyemi’s injury, who had to be substituted in the first half, put a damper on the mood. The question of the German champions has not been as open as this year for a long time. There are only five points between industry leader Bayern and Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth place.
Terzic relies on rotation at BVB
The guests from Berlin can only dream of such table regions. Hertha suffered a setback in the relegation battle and is penultimate in the table. The only goal for Sandro Schwarz’s team was scored by Lucas Tousart (46th) in front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Dortmund stadium.
Terzic relied on rotation at BVB. “Today a few guys have the chance to show that they are still there, that they want to step on the gas,” said the 40-year-old on the DAZN streaming service about his four changes. Among others, Captain Reus and Mats Hummels were new in the starting XI. Jude Bellingham was initially on the bench and came on as a substitute in the middle of the second half.
Game stopped shortly after kick-off
At first, however, no one could show themselves. Shortly after kick-off, referee Harm Osmers interrupted the game because thick pyrotechnic smoke wafted through the stadium from the Hertha fans’ block. After the restart, the Berliners had the first chance. Jessic Ngankam aimed a little too high from the edge of the penalty area.
Dortmund took a while to get into the game. Although Borussia took over the game design, BVB did not become really dangerous for a long time. Up to the 27th minute – and then right away: Reus moved from the right into the penalty area, served Adeyemi and the German international hit the first Dortmund goal with a hoe, which is worth seeing.
Adeyemi substituted injured after 2-0
Now BVB really got going. Adeyemi ignited the turbo on the left flank, served Malen and it was already 2-0. However, Adeyemi injured himself while preparing the goal. The 21-year-old grabbed his back left thigh and had to be substituted. Terzic comforted the youngster with a hug before Adeyemi was led into the dressing room, supported by two coaches. “I think it’s going in that direction,” said BVB managing director Carsten Cramer when asked whether Adeyemi had suffered a muscle injury. “It didn’t look good, you could see that it really hit him.”
The Dortmund fans supported Adeyemi with loud chants and then switched to party mode. “Who will be German champions? BVB Borussia”, the supporters sang euphorically.
The game was not decided yet. Shortly after half-time, Hertha caught BVB unsorted in defense. Tousart gave the capitals hope with his goal. In terms of results, the game remained open until the late 3-1 by Reus, but Dortmund did not allow themselves to be disrupted in the long term. BVB remained superior and defensively stable.
Dortmund is still doing well in all three competitions. In the DFB Cup quarter-finals, Borussia plays at RB Leipzig, as the draw during the game showed.
