Borussia Dortmund were held to a 2-2 (1-2) draw at TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday. In a hard-fought and entertaining game, Jürgen Klopp’s men fought back from a two-goal deficit, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lukasz Piszczek scoring the goals for BVB.

Spielpaarung 1899 Hoffenheim - Borussia Dortmund

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting from Sinsheim

A capacity crowd of 31,000 at Wirsol Rhein-Neckar Arena saw an entertaining first half in which the hosts took a 2-0 lead through Schipplock (18 mins.) and Volland (28) before Aubameyang pulled one back for BVB shortly before the interval. Borussia dominated the second half but only managed to find the net once when Piszczek scored on 67 minutes to make it 2-2.

The Scenario

Third-placed Borussia Dortmund travelled to 11th TSG Hoffenheim, and the game promised to be a goal-fest, with the second (BVB/35 goals) and third-best attack (TSG/34) in the Bundesliga playing against each other. With only 16 goals conceded, BVB also went into the match having the third-best defence in the Bundesliga (Bayern 7; Leverkusen 14), while Hoffenheim already had conceded 35 goals, more than twice as many as BVB, and also more than any other Bundesliga side.

Personnel Matters

Jürgen Klopp made four changes to the team that faced Marseille in midweek, with Mitch Langerak, Lukasz Piszczek, Manuel Friedrich and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacing Roman Weidenfeller, Kevin Großkreutz and Henrikh Mkhitaryan as well as Sokratis who was unavailable through suspension. Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol had almost a full squad to select from with only Thesker missing.

Tactics

Hoffenheim, just like BVB, opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Modest playing as a classic centre-forward, and Volland and Herding covering the wings, while Firmono pulled the strings in midfield. For BVB, Reus took up a more central role in midfield.

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Aubameyang slots home to pull a goal back for BVB. [pictures: firo]

Game & Analysis

Both sides started the game brightly and tried to create openings with quick passing football. Borussia had the first chance through Reus who actually found the net with a shot from 12 yards, but it was disallowed as Lewandowski , standing in front of 1899 goalkeeper Grahl and blocking his view, was ruled offside (10 mins.).

The second chance of the game again fell to BVB, and again it was Reus who had the opportunity to put the visitors in front. After Blaszczykowski and Lewandowski had worked the ball well into the Hoffenheim area, Reus was about to tap the ball into an empty net only to see  Volland sliding in with a last-ditch tackle to nick the ball from his feet (16 mins.)

At the other end, a steal in midfield by Rudy led to a quick counterattack that saw Firmino carving open the BVB rearguard for Schipplock to run free towards goal before lobbing the ball over the advancing Langerak to put Hoffenheim in front (18 mins). Polanski could have doubled the lead for the hosts seven minutes later but, fortunately, his effort from 22 yards hit the crossbar (25 mins.)

Borussia, who controlled possession (60 percent after 30 minutes), tried to hit back and should have been awarded a penalty on 28 minutes when Sahin was pulled back in the area, but the referee waved play on.

Instead of getting a chance for an equaliser, the Black n Yellows found themselves two goals down on 38 minutes when Firmino crossed into the box to find Rudy who squared the ball into the path of Volland and the winger fired into the left bottom corner, leaving Langerak with no chance.

BVB kept their heads high, and pushing the ball forward. Shortly before the break, they were given a lifeline in the form of a blunder by Hoffenheim keeper Grahl who dropped the ball following a corner, with the ball rolling through his legs and towards goal before Aubameyang scrambled it over the line to get BVB back in the game (44 mins.).  It was the fifth consecutive goal for Borussia Dortmund from a set play.

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Lewandowski in a duel with Vestergaard and Rudy.

The Black n Yellows continued to press after the break and created further chances from set pieces as Reus went close from 20 yards (58 mins.) and Aubameyang saw his free-kick from 26 yards saved well by Grahl (65 mins.).

BVB applied more and more pressure and eventually were rewarded for their efforts on 67 minutes when Piszczek climbed highest to meet Sahin’s soft cross into the area with a powerful header that was saved – but not held - by Grahl, and the BVB defender was also quickest to react to the rebound and tapped the ball home from short range (67 mins.). Borussia sensed blood and pushed for the winner, with Lewandowski coming close with a short-range effort on 71 minutes before  a Mkhitaryan shot skimmed past Grahl’s left-hand post on 74 minutes. A minute later, the Armenian was then unlucky when his shot from 15 yards, initially saved by Grahl, trickled through the Hoffenheim goalkeeper’s legs and onto the post (75 mins.).

Reus should have made it 3-2 but powered his shot just wide of the right post before Volland had a good opportunity to restore the lead for Hoffenheim on 86 minutes, but missed from 12 yards, while Schieber also went wide at the other end in what was the last chance of the game (89 mins.).

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 16
TSG HOFFENHEIM – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-2 (2-1)

TSG Hoffenheim: Grahl – Beck, Süle, Vestergaard, Toljan – Rudy, Polanski – Volland, Roberto Firmino, Herdling – Schipplock
Borussia Dortmund: Langerak – Piszczek, Friedrich, Sarr, Durm – Sahin, Kehl – Blaszczykowski, Reus, Aubameyang – Lewandowski
Substitutions: 69. Salihovic for Schipplock, 71. Johnson for Herdling, 90.+1 Strobl for Rudy - 66. Hofmann and Mkhitaryan for Aubameyang and Blaszczykowski, 88. Schieber for Reus
Goals: 1-0 Schipplock (17., Firmino), 2-0 Volland (37., Rudy), 2-1 Aubameyang (44., Lewandowski), 2-2 Piszczek (67., Sahin)
Corners: 2-4 (HT 0-2), Chances: 5-11 (3-4)
Referee: Zwayer (Berlin), Yellow cards: Voilland, Polanski - Reus, Friedrich, Sahin
Attendance: 30,150 (sold-out), Weather: rainy, 5 degrees

Prospects

Next Saturday (kick-off: 1530 CET) Borussia Dortmund take on Bundesliga new boys Hertha BSC Berlin at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in the final game of the year.