Debacle in Leipzig “hurts”
BVB suffers from “shitty feeling” before PSG clash
April 27, 2024, 7:01 p.m
Borussia Dortmund is licking its wounds after the completely botched dress rehearsal in Leipzig before the CL clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Players speak of the pain, sports director Sebastian Kehl of a “shitty feeling”. The injured Mats Hummels is also a concern.
Julian Brandt and Co. hesitantly crept up to the fans who had traveled with them, their frustration after this violent abrasion at RB Leipzig was deep. “It definitely hurts, it was nothing today,” said frustrated goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on Sky. And Brandt complained after Borussia Dortmund’s bitter 1:4 (1:2) defeat against their feared opponents and direct competitors: “I feel like crap, it really annoys me.”
Four days before the Champions League clash against Paris St. Germain and Kylian Mbappé, BVB ultimately lost in a fast-paced exchange of blows. Fourth place is a long way off for the Black and Yellows in the final stretch of the Bundesliga, but Dortmund are still likely to have their ticket to the premier class.
It was “a shitty feeling,” said Kobel after the four goals conceded by Lois Openda (23rd/according to video evidence), Benjamin Sesko (45th+2), Mohamed Simakan (46th) and Christoph Baumgartner (80th). Before the duel with PSG on Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN), Brandt complained about Dortmund’s “too many mistakes”: “As so often during the season, we give the opponent too many goals.” Jadon Sancho’s (10th) remarkable lead was quickly forgotten.
“Not our aim to come fifth”
In the Bundesliga table, BVB is in fifth place, five points behind fourth-placed RB. In all likelihood, that will still be enough to qualify for the Champions League, as the German clubs can have high hopes for another starting place in the newly established European top league thanks to their good performance in the European Cup.
“It’s not our aim to come fifth, that’s very clear,” said Brandt, but with a view to the semi-final first leg next week he assured: “Wednesday is Wednesday – and today is today. Today is a bitter one Thing.” Central defender Mats Hummels, who had to be replaced with an injury, was a concern. After a laceration to his shin, he should be able to play against PSG.
In Leipzig, the high RB pressing challenged Terzic’s team, who still had to find loopholes. Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi directed a header from Niclas Füllkrug (10th) around the post with his fingertips, and the goalkeeper also parried a shot from Brandt (18th) from 25 meters. Only when Sancho tenderly caressed a blocked ball from the corner of the penalty area into the corner could the Hungarian only look behind it. But Leipzig didn’t worry for long and immediately put a lot of pressure on. The fleet-footed Xavi served his target player Openda with his outside instep before the Belgian pushed the ball over the line.
Lots to do before the PSG game
Leipzig continued. Xavi single-handedly devoured Nico Schlotterbeck and Felix Nmecha with a fantastic dribble and only missed the post. RB now pushed Dortmund deep into their own half. In stoppage time in the first half, BVB keeper Kobel was able to save a long-range shot from Xaver Schlager, but the Swiss then had no chance against Sesko’s hard-hitting shot.
Immediately after the break, RB caught BVB on the wrong foot. After a throw-in in their own half, the hosts quickly switched gears and Openda found Simakan in the middle, who slotted in ice-cold. With Leipzig’s incessant attacking efforts, it was difficult for Dortmund to provide relief.
A lot has to improve offensively and defensively by Wednesday. Sports director Sebastian Kehl did not want to overestimate the bitter defeat with a view to the semi-final first leg, despite a “shitty feeling”. “Now we have to deal with today’s game,” said Kehl and fired off an appeal: “Then we will use everything we have to fight against PSG on Wednesday. And for that we need a good atmosphere. We need it in the end a euphoria from outside. We need our stadium. We need black and yellow.”