BVB start well but fall to heavy defeat in Leipzig

Borussia Dortmund lost 4-1 (2-1) away to Leipzig on Matchday 31 of the Bundesliga. BVB got off to a good start and deservedly took the lead.

Boris Rupert reporting

A crowd of 47,000 spectators witnessed an exciting and fiercely contested match in which BVB capitalised on their initial superiority to go 1-0 up through Sancho in the 20th minute, only to concede an equaliser through Openda just two-and-a-half minutes later. In first-half stoppage time, Sesko made it 2-1 for the hosts, who got off to a lightning start in the second half and extended their lead to 3-1 through Simakan (46). Baumgartner scored the final goal for Leipzig ten minutes before the end.

The scenario:
The in-form Saxons (six wins from their previous seven matches) finished fourth in the Bundesliga table, two points and twelve goals ahead of Borussia Dortmund. The Black & Yellows' away record in Leipzig was balanced (three wins, one draw, three defeats, eight goals scored to eight conceded). All other current Bundesliga clubs - with the exception of Bayern Munich - have a losing record there.

Personnel matters:
BVB were without Maatsen and Can (both suspended due to five yellow cards), Haller (ankle injury), Malen (thigh problems) and Bensebaini (knee injury). In addition, Sabitzer was only able to make the bench due to illness. Adeyemi returned after serving out a suspension. Nmecha, Özcan and Wolf all came into the team. Bynoe-Gittens joined Sabitzer on the bench.

Tactics:
Leipzig pressed high up in Dortmund's half with four players and, lined up in a 4-2-2-2, with variable positioning in attack. BVB stuck to a 4-3-3, with a number six (Özcan) at the base of midfield. Despite the numerous absentees and the resulting changes, the Black & Yellows always tried to combine from the back. Ryerson operated much more offensively on the left than his counterpart Wolf on the right, who mostly remained behind as the third man alongside the centre-backs. Nmecha and Özcan formed a double-pivot against the ball.

The match & analysis:
In summery conditions, Leipzig dominated the game in the early stages, but BVB looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Adeyemi missed an early opportunity to create a chance or get a shot off in the seventh minute, as a sloppy second touch let him down. Shortly afterwards, the lively Brandt initiated an attack. The ball came to Sancho, who crossed for Füllkrug, who beat Simakan in the air and headed back across Giulacsi's path, but Leipzig's keeper managed to get something on the ball to send it out for a corner (10).

BVB were now playing with courage and had 65% possession after a quarter of an hour. In the 18th minute, Füllkrug laid off to Brandt in midfield, who shot from distance and forced Gulacsi into another strong save. Füllkrug headed just wide from the resulting corner. Dortmund then moved the ball across the backline for a while, before Schlotterbeck found Wolf in space with a crossfield ball. The full-back powered forward for the first time and sent a cross into the area. Orban deflected towards the feet of Sancho, who sized up his defender and then curled an effort into the top-right corner from a half-left position 14 metres from goal.. Three minutes later, an equaliser by Leipzig's Openda was initially disallowed - Xavi, who had provided the assist, was deemed to be offside during a counter-attack - but after a VAR check, the goal was awarded after all. No complaints there.

Özcan's contact with Olmo in the penalty area caused referee Aytekin to whistle for a penalty after just under half an hour, but he reversed his decision after being sent to the monitor by the VAR. Leipzig were now the stronger side. Hummels had to be alert to danger two times in quick succession, then Xavi hit the post and Openda's follow-up shot just missed the target (36). Leipzig were now 6-4 ahead in terms of shots on goal and they managed to make it count on the scoreboard before the break. Borussia were too passive in this phase. After a corner kick was punched clear by Kobel, BVB failed to win the second ball. Schlager found space to shoot from 18 metres out. Kobel was able to parry the powerful shot, but the rebound fell to Sesko, who smashed it in off the underside of the crossbar from close range to make it 2-1 (45+2).

Borussia came out of the dressing room with Reus on for Adeyemi and moved wide after the restart. A throw-in from Leipzig level with their box led to the Black & Yellows, who had all their players in the opposition half, being caught out on the counter. Xavi played a through ball to Openda, who drove forward down the left wing and crossed for the onrushing centre-back Simakan, who finished from close range to make it 3-1. Just 58 seconds had been played in the second half. A short time later, Sancho laid the ball on for Ryerson, who tried his luck with a low shot from the left side of the penalty area, but Gulacsi was able to make the save (49). Immediately afterwards, Simakan and Hummels were both forced off injured. Süle came on for Dortmund.

Now it was Leipzig who were playing all the football, but goalkeeper Gulacsi still had a role to play. He had to be at his best to deny a Reus header in the 66th minute. Although BVB had had considerably fewer efforts on goal (eight) than Leipzig (15), they were more or less level when it came to clear chances (five for BVB, six for Leipzig). Moukoko and Bynoe-Gittens came on to replace Ryerson and Özcan and add attacking impetus. After Füllkrug missed a shot in the opposition penalty area, Leipzig launched a strong counter-attack, which Süle and Kobel cleared with their feet and fingertips respectively (74). Six minutes later, Baumgartner converted an assist from Henrich from close range to make it 4-1. Füllkrug had the penultimate chance to snatch a consolation goal, but his header in stoppage time went just over the bar. Bynoe-Gittens then hit the woodwork.

Outlook:
The Black & Yellows are next in action in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, when they host PSG in the first leg (kick-off 21:00 CEST). BVB will then host Augsburg at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK this coming Saturday (15:30 CET).

Teams & goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 31
LEIPZIG 4-1(2-1) BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Simakan (52, Henrichs), Orban, Lukeba, Raum - Haidara (87, Kampl), Schlager (87, Seiwald) - Dani Olmo, Xavi - Openda (87, Klostermann), Sesko (63, Baumgartner)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel - Wolf, Hummels (51, Süle), Schlotterbeck, Ryerson (71, Moukoko) - Özcan (63, Bynoe-Gittens) - Brandt, Nmecha - Adeyemi (46, Reus), Füllkrug, Sancho
Substitutes: Blaswich, Bitshiabu, Elmas, Poulsen - Meyer, Morey, Sabitzer, Pohlmann, Wätjen
Goals: 0-1 Sancho (20, Wolf), 1-1 Openda (23, Xavi), 2-1 Sesko (45+2, Schlager), 3-1 Simakan (46, Openda), 4-1 Baumgartner (80, Henrichs)
Corners: 5-8 (1-3 at half-time), chances: 10:8 (3:4)
Referee: Aytekin (Oberasbach), bookings: Simakan - Sancho, Schlotterbeck
Attendance: 47,069 (sold-out), weather: sunny, 20 degrees