Borussia Dortmund

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			VfB Stuttgart - Borussia Dortmund 1:3 (0:3)

Season 2010/2011, Matchday 2, 29.08.2010 17:30

Matchreport

3-1: BVB pick up three big points at VfB Stuttgart

[29.08.] Borussia Dortmund have registered their first Bundesliga victory of the season. After picking up wins in domestic and European cup competitions, BVB eased to a 3-1 (3-0) win at VfB Stuttgart in the second league game of the season to climb up the table. BVB raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Schmelzer, Barrios and Götze before Cacau pulled one back for the home side in the second half.

Boris Rupert reporting from Stuttgart

In front of a crowd of 40.500 at the Mercedes Benz Arena (only 500 short of a sellout), BVB confirmed their good form in the two cup competitions with an excellent first-half display before they struggled a bit in the final 30 minutes of the games.

Scenario:
VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund both had to play a Europa League playoff match on Thursday and both secured a place in the group stage. While BVB registered a 1-0 victory at Garabagh Agdam, VfB had to come back from two goals down against Bratislava - as in the previous round against Molde - to draw 2-2 at home. These results were against the trend as the Swabian outfit had won seven of their last nine Bundesliga games at home under the reign of Christian Gross. Stuttgart have never been a favourite opponent for BVB who have lost more games against VfB than against any other Bundesliga side.

Again in the starting line-up: Mario Götze

Personnel matters:
BVB coach Jürgen Klopp made just one change to the team that played in Baku on Thursday with Götze playing for Piszczek who had to settle for a place on the bench as did Hajnal. The Hungarian took the place of Rangelov who stayed home just like the injured Kuba (strained thigh muscle), Dede (knee ligament injury), Zidan (cruciate ligament) and Kringe (broken metatarsal). Stuttgart were without Celozzi, Degen, Delpierre and Audel while Niedermeier replaced Didavi in a more defensive approach.

Tactics:
The home side played with a 4-4-2, the visitors with a 4-2-3-1 formation. While Dortmund´s central defenders Subotic and Hummels took care of Marica and Cacau, Stuttgart´s wingers Gebhard and Gentner were either marked by Sahin and Kehl or BVB´s full backs Schmelzer and Owomoyela, sometimes by two players. Gentner also had defensive duties: when BVB were in possession, he slipped into a holding role alongside Träsch and Kuzmanovic, so in defence Stuttgart operated with a 4-3-2-1 with Marica on the left.

Sahin and Kehl also had an important role in setting up attacks while Kugawa often rushed forward to help BVB´s lone striker Barrios, who was either marked by Tasci or Niedermeier.

Good performance against VfB: Mats Hummels.

Grosskreutz attacked as usually on the left, Götze played on the right flank for the first time.

Stuttgart made a number of changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Bratislava: in the centre of defence Niedermeier took the place of Boulahrouz who moved to the right back position while Träsch joined Kuzmanovic in the holding midfield role and Gentner moved to the left.

Game & Analysis:
Against the best Bundesliga team of the second half of the 2009/2010 season, BVB made a bright start, showing, as Germany coach Jogi Löw likes to call them, some "committed tackling". Borussia dominated the first half in an impressive fashion with Sahin and Kehl pulling the strings in midfield, Kagawa looking dangerous up front and Götze, Großkreutz and Schmelzer always posing a threat on the wings.

The Swabian outfit struggled to get a grip on the game and BVB´s mature performance, though admittedly the visitors were a bit lucky with the first goal: Sahin played a precise pass to Schmelzer on the left, the BVB defender surged down the flank and tried to put a cross into the box, but his effort got deflected by Boulahrouz and went in with Stuttgart´s goalkeeper Ulreich stranded (5 mins.).

In the 26th minute Stuttgart found themselves 2-0 down, and again it was Sahin who set up BVB´s attack with a long ball. This time Niedermeier made a defensive error near the penalty spot, Grosskreutz raced onto the ball on the left wing before cutting it back nicely to Barrios who fired into the low right corner from the edge of the box. It was already the sixth goal for BVB´s top striker in a competitive match this season.

Celebrating his first Bundesliga goal: Mario Götze. [pictures: firo]

It even got better for Borussia. Sahin - who else? - stepped in to stop a Stuttgart attack and the loose ball was seized upon by Grosskreutz. The BVB midfielder quickly passed it to Kagawa who sent in a cross into the area where Niedermeier got to the ball before Ulreich, but headed it right into the path of Götze who made no mistake and headed home from short range (37).

Stuttgart boss Gross made two changes at half-time with Harnik and Didavi replacing Marica and Niedermeier. Träsch moved to the right back position and Boulahrouz joined Tasci in the centre of defence. In a dramatic start to the second half, the home side almost pulled one back when Didavi cut the ball back from the byline, but Harnik failed to connect to it.

BVB then took control of the match again. Sahin set up Kagawa who passed the ball on to Barrios, but Ulreich was quickly out of his goal to beat the BVB striker (49). Inside a minute, Kehl made a defence-splitting pass to release Barrios who hit a shot with the outside of his boot, but was again denied by Ulreich who pulled off a fine save with his feet.

At the other end, a lapse of concentration in the BVB defence following a quickly taken free-kick by Harnik almost cost them a goal, but Hummels made a last-ditch tackle to deny three Stuttgart players. Referee Gagelmann was also on spot when he didn´t fall for a dive by Gebhart who had already left a bad impression with fouls on Schmelzer and Kehl in the first and an attempted retaliation on Kehl in the second half.

At this stage BVB relaxed their grip and allowed their opponents back into the game. In the 63rd minute Weidenfeller kept out a fierce and nasty shot by Cacau with a great save (63). The BVB goalkeeper was eventually beaten six minutes later. Kuzmanovic raced down the right flank before sending a long cross to Cacau who headed home from close range to make it 3-1 (69).

After the goal, Stuttgart upped the pressure. Harnik tested Weidenfeller with a 22-yard shot, and the BVB was also at full stretch to deny Cacau with the rebound (71). The home side were now in control, but BVB still created chances on the break. Götze went close in the 79th minute before Kehl was denied three times by Ulreich (82/83/85).

Prospects:
After the international break, BVB will have seven games in 23 days. The first match in their "weeks of truths" will be against 2009 Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg at the Signal Iduna Park (KO 1530 CET). Tickets can be ordered online.

Teams & Goals
Bundesliga, matchday 2
VFB STUTTGART - BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-3 (0-3)

VfB Stuttgart: Ulreich - Boulahrouz, Tasci, Niedermeier, Molinaro - Träsch, Kuzmanovic - Gebhart, Gentner - Cacau, Marica.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Kehl, Sahin - Götze, Kagawa, Grosskreutz - Barrios.
Substitutions: 46. Didavi and Harnik for Niedermeier and Marica, 90. Funk for Boulahrouz - 65. Lewandowski, 75. Piszczek for Großkreutz, 88. Bender for Sahin.
Goals: 0-1 Schmelzer (5., Sahin), 0-2 Barrios (26., Grosskreutz), 0-3 Götze (37., Kagawa), 1-3 Cacau (69., Kuzmanovic).
Corners: 7-3 (HT 1-0), Chances: 4-8 (0-3).
Referee: Gagelmann (Bremen), Bookings: Schmelzer, Kehl
Attendance: 40.500, Weather: cloudy, 16 C°.