3-2 in Augsburg – Goals from Reus, Sokratis and Ramos see BVB triumph

The win ensured the Black n Yellows are back on track, and the sight of Neven Subotic and Sven Bender back in the side after absences of nine and four months respectively made the day even more perfect with Subotic managing to play the entire ninety minutes.

The Scenario:

Both teams had gone down 2-0 in their opening fixtures leading Jürgen Klopp to comment, “We need to bounce back and show our true colours.” Augsburg’s coach Markus Weinzierl opted to declare his side “clear underdogs requiring a day of days but maybe we can spring that surprise.” The statistics clearly favoured the visitors with FC Augsburg yet to register a win in six Bundesliga games (two draws). Last season BVB won 4-0 in Augsburg to register Augsburg’s worst ever home defeat in the Bundeslga with Aubameyang notching a hat-trick.

Personnel Matters:

BVB arrived down south still plagued by injuries; Kirch, Ji, Schmelzer, Sahin, Gündogan, Hummels, Kuba were all missing either injured or not yet match fit. Happily, Ramos (back after a knee problem) and Bender (back) were able to take a place on the bench. Jürgen Klopp made three changes to the starting eleven that lost the opener against Leverkusen with Weidenfeller making his anticipated return in goal for Langerak and Subotic finally returning after his cruciate injury sustained in Wolfsburg in November 2013. His return meant Ginter moved aside while further forward Grosskreutz came into the side for Immobile allowing Aubameyang to start up front. Weinzerl made two changes after his side’s 2-0 defeat in Hoffenheim with Parker replacing Caiuby in midfield and Djurdjic playing up top instead of Matavz.

Tactics:

BVB started in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Kehl in front of the back four and Aubameyang alone up front. Grosskreutz and Reus looked to combine down the left with Jojic and Mkhitaryan dong the same down the right flank. This was the way BVB had played Real Madrid off the park (2-0) last season. With Bender’s second half introduction the team reverted to the 4-2-3-1 formation. Augsburg, meanwhile favoured 4-2-3-1 throughout hoping, no doubt, to have plenty of attacking options.

The Game and Analysis:

BVB enjoyed a dream start, showing speed and purpose from the off and after an opening ten minutes when despite this there had been little goalmouth action, a glorious one-two between Reus and Grosskreutz on the edge of the box saw Reus skip clear of a challenge and calmly slip the ball under the ‘keeper, 1-0 after 11 minutes. Not long after Aubameyang’s lunge just failed to see him connect with a delicious Piszczek cross. Then another Piszczek cross for Aubameyang was blocked for a corner.

And from that corner, taken by Reus, Sokratis benefited from a diversionary run by Subotic to thump home a header from just outside the six yard box. It was the Greek’s second goal for the club and meant that with less than a quarter of an hour gone, BVB seemed to be in complete control.

Any thought that Borussia would rest on their laurels was soon extinguished and whilst Augsburg did finally come into the game a bit more, BVB still pretty much dominated proceedings. Mkhitaryan was enjoying himself hugely down the right and had three chance to add to the score; Aubameyang, too, had two good chances but Hitz in the home goal was able to keep him out.

It seemed as if, during the first half, BVB were simply too fast for the home side. Augsburg seldom had controlled possession and when they did they often ran into offside positions although it has to be said that Djurdjic did elude the offside trap once, in the 37^th minute, only to screw his shot wide as Weidenfeller rushed out to close the angle.

It was pretty much the same picture after the break with BVB in control. Not long after the re-start Aubameyang had a chance but his delicate right-foot effort floated wide. That was on the hour mark and thereafter the game lost a bit of pace with Augsburg taking care to keep the ball better and BVB, albeit still dominating, never really threatening to add to their tally. A perfect example of BVB’s drift in concentration came in the 76^th minute when Aubameyang opted to go it alone from an acute angle rather than square it for Reus.

Manic closing stages

Despite this, the third goal did eventually materialise when Mkhitaryan’s shot from a Reus corner was parried by Hitz into the path of Ramos who duly forced the ball home to make it 3-0 with 12 minutes remaining. It was the Columbian’s first Bundesliga goal. Ten minutes earlier the introduction of Bender for Jojic (living dangerously on a ‘yellow’) had the travelling faithful in raptures as he had been out since the 0-3 defeat in Hamburg in April.

Then, as the clock wound down, it all started happening. First Bobadilla latched onto the end of good work by Baba to make it 2-1 on 82 minutes and then, in the last minute of regular time Matavz narrowed the gap to just one goal. Suddenly BVB looked open at the back and if truth be told had Weidenfeller to thank when he made a fine save from Werner in time added on.

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 2
FC AUGSBURG – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 (0-2)

FC Augsburg: Hitz - Verhaegh, Callsen-Bracker, Klavan, Baba - Baier - Parker, Feulner, Altintop, Werner – Djurdjic
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Sokratis, Subotic, Durm – Kehl –Mkhitaryan, Jojic, Reus, Großkreutz – Aubameyang
Substitutions: 61. Bobadilla for Parker, 69. Matavz for Feulner, 82. Kohr for Djurdjic - 64. Bender for Jojic, 73. Ramos for Großkreutz, 87. Hofmann for Reus
Goals: 0-1 Reus (11., Großkreutz), 0-2 Sokratis (14.., corner Reus), 0-3 Ramos (78., Mkhitaryan), 1-3 Bobadilla (82., Babe), 2-3 Matavz (89., Babe)
Corners: 4-6 (HT 0-4), Chances: 5-11 (1-7)
Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg), Yellow cards: Verhaegh – Jojic, Subotic
Attendance: 30,660 (sold out), Weather: dry, 19 degrees

Prospects:

The Bundesliga had only just started but it’s time for a break. An international one, with Germany playing Argentina on 3 September in Düsseldorf. Four days later, Scotland are the visitors to play in Dortmund. BVB are back in action on 13 September with SC Freiburg coming to Signal Iduna Park followed three days later by Arsenal in the Champions League.