Cup exit after a desolate game: outstanding VfB Stuttgart presents “catastrophic” BVB

Cup exit after a desolate game
Outstanding VfB Stuttgart presents “catastrophic” BVB

December 6th, 2023, 10:45 p.m

With Borussia Dortmund, the next heavyweight in German football fails in the DFB Cup. After a desolate performance, the team was quietly eliminated in the round of 16 by the extremely strong VfB Stuttgart. Things are getting more and more unpleasant for coach Edin Terzić.

The skyscrapers of VfB Stuttgart mercilessly punished Borussia Dortmund’s fearsome football. The stormy Swabians deservedly defeated the discouraged BVB 2-0 (0-0) in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup and, like last year, moved into the round of the last eight. While VfB can dream of a fourth cup win in this form, the guests’ first goal of the season is gone – and the talk of a crisis is likely to start again. In front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, goalkeeper Serhou Guirassy (54th) and substitute Silas (77th) scored for Stuttgart.

“It was lacking at the front and back,” said Dortmund captain Emre Can on ZDF, “we weren’t strong enough in the duels, a footballing catastrophe, not good at all against the ball. We are Dortmund, there has to be more! We have to Let’s get together, things can’t go on like this.”

It was the first cup success over Dortmund in 25 years, also in the round of 16 (3-1). Borussia’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was just offside when he supposedly scored to make it 1-1 (60′). BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke watched the bankruptcy visibly upset with his arms crossed and a stone-faced look in the stands. In front of 54,200 spectators in the sold-out MHP Arena, VfB tried to “actively defend forward” with the dual leadership of Guirassy and Deniz Undav, as coach Sebastian Hoeneß said. That worked, BVB was tied in their half. There Borussia entrenched themselves in the style of an underdog in the 5-4-1 system.

Two BVB stars have to go out injured

Captain Emre Can, whom coach Edin Terzic had withdrawn to the center of defense, blocked a first shot from Guirassy (7th). “Stand compactly, create switching moments and be dangerous with a lot of speed,” said sports director Sebastian Kehl, describing the idea. Terzic brought in the fast Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko. The latter had to leave the field injured after Marcel Sabitzer hit the crossbar (20th). The permanent reservist had only had two contacts with the ball up to that point. Sabitzer’s aluminum test was an exception: Dortmund lacked a real idea when in possession of the ball. VfB was more dangerous, for example through Undav (24th/43rd) or Atakan Karazor (45th+2).

With the restart, BVB’s injured Marius Wolf and Marcel Sabitzer also had to go down. This didn’t change anything about the game system. After Mats Hummels lost the ball, Can saved again against Guirassy (48th), then goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was there against the Guinean (52nd). The VfB lead was a matter of time: after the pass from the strong Enzo Millot, Can and Nico Schlotterbeck came too late and Kobel got the ball through his legs. The “huge opportunity” for Dortmund to be able to play for the title with the remaining Bundesliga clubs Leverkusen and Gladbach, as conjured up by Kehl, was hanging by a thread.

Kobel prevented Millot from making it 2-0 (58th). Only now did the guests wake up and make the game a little more open. Guirassy also missed the next possible VfB goal (69th), Silas, who came on as a substitute six minutes earlier, did a better job. In the end there was another shocking moment for BVB: Julian Ryerson had to be replaced with great pain due to a knee injury.