Reus only needs eight minutes
BVB punishes Union and uses Bayern’s mistakes
2/13/2022, 5:24 p.m
Borussia Dortmund closes the gap to Bundesliga champions FC Bayern. Six points are still clear, but the Black and Yellows convince early on with offensive effectiveness at 1. FC Union. The Köpenicker cannot add anything countable to their home strength.
The Bundesliga is in a bit of a fight for the title again: After Bayern Munich’s slip-up, Borussia Dortmund saved what was probably their last chance to win the championship and reduced the gap to six points. Led by double goal scorer Marco Reus, BVB prevailed 3-0 (2-0) in the away game at Union Berlin and showed a good reaction to the indisputable 5-2 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen the previous week.
His two goals (18th and 25th) were a particular satisfaction for Reus, the BVB captain was whistled at every ball contact in front of 10,000 spectators in the stadium at the Alte Försterei. Union fans still resent Reus for allegedly swallowing in a duel a year ago. Reus seemed to have spurred on the provocations, so the absence of star striker Erling Haaland, who was still injured, hardly mattered. Raphael Guerreiro (71st) made the final score.
The first Bundesliga win in the third attempt at Union also gives the team of coach Marco Rose tailwind for the first leg duel in the second round of the Europa League on Thursday against Glasgow Rangers. The Berliners have meanwhile lost their step without their top scorer Max Kruse, who has migrated to Wolfsburg, and after the second defeat in a row they have to worry about the renewed European Cup qualification.
In addition to Haaland, Marius Wolf and Thomas Meunier were missing at Dortmund due to injury, but central defender Mats Hummels returned to the starting XI. The Berliners also went into the game after four Corona failures during the week. In addition, midfield stabilizer Rani Khedira had to watch with a yellow card.
Union’s late goal doesn’t count
The Berliners got off to a slightly better start and had the first chance of the game (4th) through Sheraldo Becker, who had been released nicely by Taiwo Awoniyi. After that, the guest took control, but Dortmund could not do much with the ball possession – before Reus struck with the first BVB chance. The national player executed after preparatory work by Mahmoud Dahoud.
The hosts were visibly shocked by the deficit, and Dortmund took advantage of that coldly. After a pass from Donyell Malen, Reus, who was running towards the goal, played around the Union keeper Andreas Luthe and pushed in to make it 2-0. However, the Berliners did not give up and could have made the connection through Bastian Oczipka before the half-time whistle (35′). But Gregor Kobel was in the Dortmund goal on the post.
After the change of sides, the Unioner came out of the dressing room with more momentum, but the 1: 2 did not want to fall despite good chances such as that of Becker (52nd) and Kruse replacement Sven Michel (65th). Dortmund withdrew and tried to create chances on the counterattack. Guerreiro increased, while Union were denied a goal by Kevin Möhwald (73′).