Super sub Gittens earns BVB 2-0 win

Match Report

Super sub Gittens earns BVB 2-0 win

Borussia Dortmund have started off the 2024/25 Bundesliga season with a 2-0 (0-0) home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. A substitute scored the goals: Jamie Gittens.

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Borussia Dortmund have started off the 2024/25 Bundesliga season with a 2-0 (0-0) home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. A substitute scored the goals: Jamie Gittens.

Boris Rupert reporting

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Following a dogged opening half, the 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK witnessed two outstanding moments of individual quality from substitute Gittens, who scored the goals of the evening in the 72nd and 93rd minutes - and sealed three rather fortunate points against Eintracht, who had the better chances overall.

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The scenario:
\n Neither team showed any weaknesses in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, running out 4-1 victors against lower-division opposition (Phönix Lübeck and Eintracht Braunschweig respectively). Only against Eintracht Frankfurt have Borussia Dortmund won 50 Bundesliga matches and only against SGE have they passed the 200-goal mark. Twelve of the previous 13 home matches against SGE have ended in victory!

\n\n With the exception of new signing Serhou Guirassy (fitness training), all first-team players were available. Youngsters Wätjen, Campbell, Kabar and Lotka played for the U23s in Rostock. Compared to the cup tie the weekend before, head coach Nuri Sahin made one change: Donyell Malen replaced Jamie Gittens in the starting XI.\n\n

Tactics:
Right-back Ryerson pushed forward from the back four of BVB's 4-2-3-1 formation when they had possession and played on the right of attacking midfield. Then in a 3-2-4-1, the Black & Yellows initially looked in vain for gaps in the hard-running and focused rearguard of Eintracht, who lined up defensive-mindedly in a 4-4-2 formation which turned into a 4-2-1-3 when they had possession, with Götze roaming freely behind, between or in front of three mobile attackers.

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The match & analysis:
Following a hectic start, Frankfurt settled into the game earlier than Dortmund and had their fifth corner by the 17th minute (BVB had had none by that point). The Black & Yellows did not generate tempo and Eintracht always had enough time to get themselves into position and counter the build-up attempts with aggressive defending. Only in the 41st minute did Brandt put Frankfurt keeper Trapp to the test for the first time with a long-range short towards the near post. It was one of only three shots in the first half (Frankfurt five). The attacking efforts were too transparent and too static.

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After a pacey cross from Knauff, the ball bounced unexpectedly in front of Anton's feet - but it fortunately went wide of the post (79). It marked the start of an exciting finale. In the four minutes of stoppage time, BVB cut out a dangerous situation in their own penalty area that saw Bensebaini clearly win the ball against Matanovic, then Gittens broke forward and beat Trapp to complete the scoring at 2-0 (90+3).

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Outlook:
Matchday 2 will see Borussia Dortmund visit SV Werder Bremen. Kick-off next Saturday is at 15:30 CEST. After that, the league campaign will pause for the international break. BVB will then continue their season with a home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on Friday 13 September.

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Teams & goals

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Bor. Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Anton, Süle, Schlotterbeck - Can (Reyna, 80), Groß - Sabitzer (Nmecha, 80), Brandt (Bensebaini, 85), Malen (Beier, 59) - Adeyemi (Gitten, 59)
Eintr. Frankfurt: Trapp - Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate (Nkounkou, 59) - Skhiri, Larsson - Götze (Höjlund, 76) - Marmoush (Matanovic, 69), Ekitiké (Knauff, 76), Chaibi (Chaibi, 76)
Substitutes: Meyer, Couto, Haller, Gittens - Kaua Santos, Amenda, Collins, Bahoya
Goals: 1-0 Gittens (Groß, 72), 2-0 Gittens (Bensebaini, 90+3)
Corners: 7-6 (2-6 at half-time), chance ratio: 3-3 (1-1)
Referee: Zwayer (Berlin), yellow card: Skhiri
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: initially sunny then overcast, 30 degrees

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Boris Rupert reporting

Following a dogged opening half, the 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK witnessed two outstanding moments of individual quality from substitute Gittens, who scored the goals of the evening in the 72nd and 93rd minutes - and sealed three rather fortunate points against Eintracht, who had the better chances overall.

The scenario:
Neither team showed any weaknesses in the first round of the DFB-Pokal, running out 4-1 victors against lower-division opposition (Phönix Lübeck and Eintracht Braunschweig respectively). Only against Eintracht Frankfurt have Borussia Dortmund won 50 Bundesliga matches and only against SGE have they passed the 200-goal mark. Twelve of the previous 13 home matches against SGE have ended in victory!

With the exception of new signing Serhou Guirassy (fitness training), all first-team players were available. Youngsters Wätjen, Campbell, Kabar and Lotka played for the U23s in Rostock. Compared to the cup tie the weekend before, head coach Nuri Sahin made one change: Donyell Malen replaced Jamie Gittens in the starting XI.

Tactics:
Right-back Ryerson pushed forward from the back four of BVB's 4-2-3-1 formation when they had possession and played on the right of attacking midfield. Then in a 3-2-4-1, the Black & Yellows initially looked in vain for gaps in the hard-running and focused rearguard of Eintracht, who lined up defensive-mindedly in a 4-4-2 formation which turned into a 4-2-1-3 when they had possession, with Götze roaming freely behind, between or in front of three mobile attackers.

The match & analysis:
Following a hectic start, Frankfurt settled into the game earlier than Dortmund and had their fifth corner by the 17th minute (BVB had had none by that point). The Black & Yellows did not generate tempo and Eintracht always had enough time to get themselves into position and counter the build-up attempts with aggressive defending. Only in the 41st minute did Brandt put Frankfurt keeper Trapp to the test for the first time with a long-range short towards the near post. It was one of only three shots in the first half (Frankfurt five). The attacking efforts were too transparent and too static.

After a pacey cross from Knauff, the ball bounced unexpectedly in front of Anton's feet - but it fortunately went wide of the post (79). It marked the start of an exciting finale. In the four minutes of stoppage time, BVB cut out a dangerous situation in their own penalty area that saw Bensebaini clearly win the ball against Matanovic, then Gittens broke forward and beat Trapp to complete the scoring at 2-0 (90+3).

Outlook:
Matchday 2 will see Borussia Dortmund visit SV Werder Bremen. Kick-off next Saturday is at 15:30 CEST. After that, the league campaign will pause for the international break. BVB will then continue their season with a home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on Friday 13 September.

Teams & goals

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Anton, Süle, Schlotterbeck - Can (Reyna, 80), Groß - Sabitzer (Nmecha, 80), Brandt (Bensebaini, 85), Malen (Beier, 59) - Adeyemi (Gitten, 59)
Eintr. Frankfurt: Trapp - Kristensen, Tuta, Koch, Theate (Nkounkou, 59) - Skhiri, Larsson - Götze (Höjlund, 76) - Marmoush (Matanovic, 69), Ekitiké (Knauff, 76), Chaibi (Chaibi, 76)
Substitutes: Meyer, Couto, Haller, Gittens - Kaua Santos, Amenda, Collins, Bahoya
Goals: 1-0 Gittens (Groß, 72), 2-0 Gittens (Bensebaini, 90+3)
Corners: 7-6 (2-6 at half-time), chance ratio: 3-3 (1-1)
Referee: Zwayer (Berlin), yellow card: Skhiri
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: initially sunny then overcast, 30 degrees