Dortmund earn three points when outnumbered

That was close: Borussia Dortmund won 29-09 (23-3) at TSG 1 Hoffenheim on Friday evening (2/1/1899) and took the lead in the table. BVB had to complete the final quarter of an hour outnumbered.

After Julian Brandt’s preparation, Niclas Füllkrug shot Dortmund into the lead (18th). But BVB could only be happy about the lead for about five minutes, because then Andrej Kramaric equalized with a foul penalty. Shortly before the break, Marco Reus put the visitors back in front. Julian Ryerson (90th + 6) put the lid on it in the tubulous final phase with a solo worth seeing.

 

Lots of steam on both sides

Both teams played well forward from the kick-off. This opened up spaces on both sides. First, the hosts would have benefited by a hair’s breadth when Salih Özcan cleaned up his own blunder at the last moment and Kramaric threw himself into the firing line. Again, it was Kramarić who tested the reflexes of BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel just a short time later.

It was only after a quarter of an hour that Borussia Dortmund developed their first scoring chance. Donyell Malen pulled off from a half-left position, Oliver Baumann parried in the TSG box. After that, however, it should not be long before the first Dortmund goal celebration. Brandt took advantage of a mistake by John Anthony Brooks in the 18th minute and served Füllkrug, who celebrated his first goal in a Black and Yellow jersey with a placed low shot into the far corner.

 

Hummels and the failed tackle

Dortmund’s joy did not last long. When Mats Hummels slapped his hands in front of his face, referee Florian Badstübner had rightly decided on penalties for Hoffenheim. That Hummels had been too clumsy against Kramaric during a tackle on the edge of the penalty area and had fouled the attacker. Kramarić looked out Kobel and easily slotted in at the bottom right.

The game remained open, but Dortmund seemed unsettled. Kobel had to save in great distress against Florian Grillitsch, Ozan Kabak missed a short time later with his head. Robert Skov also failed with a shot at the Dortmund goalkeeper. On the other side, Malen again created danger: after an irresistible run down the right side, Malen hit the ball in front of goal. Baumann bounced forward, right in front of the feet of Reus, who scored artistically and untenably to make it 2-1 (45th +3).

 

BVB too passive

At the beginning of the second period, Dortmund was too passive. Grischa Prömel missed a huge chance to equalise (48th), Skov produced a loud crossbar cracker from a free kick (51st). The visitors gave Hoffenheim plenty of space and put themselves in additional trouble when Ramy Bensebaini needed exactly four minutes to pick up two yellow cards: the first for plucking his shirt, the second for playing away the ball.

TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo threw everything forward once again, bringing in fresh attacking forces with Julian Justvan and Tom Bischof. But Dortmund, where Karim Adeyemi was denied by the outstandingly reacting Baumann, managed the away win thanks to an energy performance and Ryerson’s spectacular solo in injury time and will remain at the top of the Bundesliga at least until Saturday.

 

BVB vs. Union, TSG in Bremen

On Matchday 7, the Black and Yellows face Union Berlin at home (Saturday, 7.10.2023 at 15.30 CET). Hoffenheim are challenged three hours later in the evening game against Werder (18.30 CET).