Wild Borussia derby
BVB averts debacle in 15 fast-paced minutes
November 25, 2023, 5:30 p.m
After 28 minutes, Borussia Dortmund is 0-2 behind in the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Discontent is spreading in the stands. But before the mood threatens to change, the black and yellow footballers hit back with a rapid sprint.
Edin Terzić took a deep breath, Mats Hummels hugged his son Ludwig with relief. With a lot of will and morale, Borussia Dortmund prevented the next setback in the Bundesliga. After a 2-0 deficit and an impending debacle, BVB started a spectacular comeback against Borussia Mönchengladbach and rewarded themselves with a 4-2 (3-2) win. Joker Donyell Malen’s last-minute goal in front of the south stand (90. +7) into the empty goal was like a relief, the happy fans showered in beer.
“That was a great step,” said goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on Sky, “that’s good and gives you self-confidence when you can fight back like that. We have to take this momentum with us.” Marcel Sabitzer (30th), national player Niclas Füllkrug (32nd), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (45th) and Malen scored BVB’s eleventh competitive home win against Gladbach in a row, ensuring a successful start to the weeks of truth . The Champions League game against AC Milan is on Tuesday, and leaders Bayer Leverkusen await on Sunday.
“You always look forward to the great games”
“You always look forward to the great games,” said captain Emre Can, “we play against good teams, we have to step on the gas, work hard and try to win.” However, this requires an increase in performance. Because Dortmund’s defense revealed worrying weaknesses, and not just with the goals conceded by Rocco Reitz (13th) and Manu Kone (28th).
But morale is intact. For the first time since January 2022, BVB made up for a two-goal deficit, only FC Augsburg scored more points in the league after being behind (12:11). The hosts had to do without the sick Karim Adeyemi and Sebastien Haller for a short time, but they returned Captain Emre Can returns to the starting eleven after his injury break. Terzic demanded that his players take more responsibility shortly before kick-off after three league games without a win.
That didn’t work at all for half an hour in front of 81,365 spectators. Vulnerable at the back, lacking ideas at the front – the runner-up couldn’t get into the game at all. When Reitz scored after a nice pass from Alassane Plea, the back four were way too high. Kone calmly drove through the Dortmund penalty area when he scored. When the first whistles were heard in Signal Iduna Park, BVB came back into the game thanks to Gladbach’s help. Kone lost the ball in the Dortmund penalty area. The resulting counterattack was successfully completed by Sabitzer, who had also scored for Austria in the international match against Germany (2-0). His shot deflected unstoppably off Joe Scally.
Bynoe-Gittens makes the difference
The hosts then seized the moment. Füllkrug hit technically well after Bynoe-Gittens’ lay-off to equalize. Then the international took revenge and prepared the goal for the striking Bynoe-Gitten. Once again it was Kone who had carelessly lost the ball in front of his own penalty area.
With the lead behind them, the black and yellow initially dominated the second half. Füllkrug failed with a header from Moritz Nicolas (52′). The Gladbach goalkeeper was also in charge against Bynoe-Gittens (54th). Nicolas would have had no chance when Marco Reus’ free kick hit the crossbar (55′). BVB looked for a decision, but Gladbach stabilized themselves by switching to a back four after an hour. However, the guests were no longer offensive – until Christoph Kramer finished again. His shot (90.+5) whizzed past. Malen hit the empty goal.