3-0: BVB are back with impressive win in Anderlecht

The Constant Vanden Stock stadium housed a sell-out 19,000 crowd and they saw BVB make a dream start taking the lead after just three minutes through a Ciro Immobile goal. Aubameyang had countless chances to make it 2-0 in the first half but BVB had to wait until the 69th minute to extend their lead when substitute Adrian Ramos scored. Ten minutes from time the Colombian added a third whilst for the hosts Mitrovic came closest when he struck a post.

Felix Ulrich reports from Brussels

The Scenario:

Having taken just one point from their last three Bundesliga games BVB travelled to Belgium as leaders of Group D. Anderlecht had drawn away to Galatasaray and had had chances to win that game whilst in the Belgian Jupiler League they were undefeated having won six and drawn three games. Jürgen Klopp said, going into the game, “We want to be really awkward opponents for Anderlecht. Anderlecht are THE Belgian football club, but they don’t face a Borussia Dortmund every day. We need to impose ourselves.”

Personnel Matters:

Sebastian Kehl, having recovered from his ankle problems came into the team for Ginter whilst Klopp made three further changes from the starting eleven that lost in Schalke at the weekend. Hummels, Durm and Ramos made way for Sokratis, Schmelzer and Kagawa whilst, in comparison to the 2-0 win over Arsenal Piszczek and Kagawa replaced Durm and Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan, Blaszczykowski, Gündogan, Kirch, Reus and Sahin were all still unavailable through injury. The home side made two changes from their weekend league win with Praet and Nuytinck making way for Colin and Heylen.

Tactics:

BVB set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Anderlecht’s 4-4-2 giving the Black n Yellows a man advantage in midfield whenever Suarez or Mitrovic didn’t drop deep. This meant that Anderlecht had problems getting the ball forward whilst BVB found plenty of room wide with Aubameyang and Großkreutz switching flanks and enjoying themselves.

The Game and Analysis:

It was as if the Bundesliga problems never existed. Borussia Dortmund came to party in the Champions League again with Klopp’s team once again the ultimate ‘pressing machine’ forcing the Belgian side into so many mistakes and at times overrunning them.

Bender won possession in midfield and moved the ball on to Kagawa who sent a delightful chip over the back four into the path of Immobile who made it 1-0 with just his third touch of the ball on three minutes. It was the Italian’s second CL goal in his second CL game!

Aubameyang hits the side netting

The early goal was just what BVB, who had only lost one of their last six group stage games, wanted allowing them to counter at will and with ten minutes gone Aubameyang could so easily have scored a second when, following fine work down the left flank by Kagawa and Großkreutz, he could only fire into the side netting with the goal gaping. The man from Gabon was soon testing the RSC ‘keeper again on 18 minutes and a second goal would have been no less than BVB deserved despite the home side having chances of their own.

Praet (on 15 mins) had their best chance when he pounced on a Kehl back pass only to be denied by the imposing figure of Weidenfeller. Mitrovic, too, threatened but his ‘goal’ was chalked off for a clear offside. The same thing happened at the other end when Großkreutz had his goal disallowed dubiously as he charged onto the end of a cross from Aubameyang. The Italian referee though, taking instruction from his assistant, denied the goal.

Schmelzer had the last chance of the first half when he bolted onto a Großkreutz cross and hit the ball first time drawing a fine save from Proto in the home goal. By half-time the statistics (8-2 shots, 4-1 chances, 60% possession) suggested a goal lead was suitable reward for the BVB efforts.

The second half started where the first ended. RSC did try hard to keep possession but although they seemed now to have more of the ball, they posed no real threat on the BVB goal with Subotic and Sokratis starring in central defence. So, with BVB unable to find their rhythm again after the break, until the last twenty minutes save for one Aubameyang chance, the game meandered into the last twenty five minutes.

Adrian Ramos hits two

Jürgen Klopp reacted to the lethargy introducing Ramos for Großkreutz on 65 minutes. It was to prove a master stroke. Just four minutes later a wickedly curling Piszczek cross found the Columbian who turned the ball into the net with aplomb. Game over? Not a bit of it. RSC, courtesy of Mitrovic, struck the post on 75 minutes but happily another goal from Ramos on 79 minutes put the game to bed.

Team & Goals

UEFA Champions League, Matchday 2
RSC ANDERLECHT – BORUSSIA DORTMUND  0-3 (0-1)

RSC Anderlecht: Proto - Najar, Mbemba, Nuytinck, Deschacht - Defour, Tielemans - Conté, Praet, Suarez - Mitrovic
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Sokratis, Subotic, Schmelzer – Kehl, Bender – Aubameyang, Kagawa, Großkreutz – Immobile
Substitutions: 46. Acheampong for Conté, 82. Kabasele and Cyriac for Suarez and Mitrovic - 65. Ramos for Großkreutz, 72. Durm for Immobile, 82. Hummels for Bender
Goals: 0-1 Immobile (3., Kagawa), 0-2 Ramos (69., Piszczek), 0-3 Ramos (79., Aubameyang)
Corners: 6-6 (HT 2-4), Chances: 4-12 (1-5)
Referee: Tagliavento (ITA), Yellow cards: Suarez
Attendancer: 19,000 (sold out), Weather: dry, 18 degrees

Prospects:

Having played six games in 18 days, BVB host SV Hamburg (kick off 1530 CET) on Saturday in the Bundesliga. Like BVB, Joe Zimbauer’s team has collected just one point from the last three BL games albeit that point coming against Bayern! The next Champions League game is on 22 October when Borussia travel to Istanbul