1-1: Immobile goal not enough to win the game

65,851 at the Signal Iduna Park saw Ciro Immobile give the Black and Yellows the lead on 58 minutes but the Italian and Mkhitaryan missed a number of chances to add a second and that carelessness was duly punished when with six minutes to go, Mitrovic equalised for the Belgian visitors.

Felix Ulrich reporting

The Scenario:

Whilst Borussia Dortmund came into the game already assured of a place in the next round, a point was essential to ensure that they went through as group winners. The Belgians arrived with third spot assured. Nonetheless BVB went into the game with a good attitude which meant that the game was played with a certain passion with Anderlecht protecting a decent Champions League record this season.

Personnel Matters:

Jürgen Klopp made six (!) changes to the team that had beaten TSG Hoffenheim 1-0 at the weekend; Erik Durm (for Piszczek), Matthias Ginter (for Hummels), Kevin Grosskreutz (for Aubameyang), Shinji Kagawa (for Bender) und Ciro Immobile (for Adrian Ramos). Kehl also made room for Nuri Sahin allowing him his first start for months and the chance to play again in midfield with Ilkay Gündogan. Marcel Schmelzer, contesting his 35^th game in the competition captained the side which had Langerak in goal. Whilst Mats Hummels had to sit out the game with back problems, Jakub Blaszczykowski took a place on the bench for the first time since September.

Tactics:

Both teams adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation with BVB pressing very high up the field in the shape of Kagawa and Immobile. The guests, on the other hand, preferred to let BVB come on to them with nine behind the ball (just Mitrovic stayed up). Gündogan and Sahin played together in holding midfield for the first time allowing Mkhitaryan to forage forward down the left, Grosskreutz on the right and Kagawa down the middle. Just as in the game against Arsenal Erik Durm was on the right wing-back position.

The Game and Analysis:

The first half was evenly contested. The Belgians defended deep and in a disciplined fashion relying on counter-attacks to pose a threat. The first big opportunity of the game was created by a driving run by Mkhitaryan and a fine lay off to Kagawa. The midfielder looked up and saw Immobile only for the Italian’s shot on the turn saved by Proto in the Anderlecht goal.

Not too long after BVB had Langerak to thank for keeping it all square when he charged down a Mitrovic effort when the striker was through on goal. With temperatures around freezing, the fans were kept warm by a game in which both sides had chances to score. Immobile was always at the centre of things for BVB but just on the half hoyr mark the striker’s shot from an acute angle was well parried by Proto. Two minutes later the ‘keeper also denied Mkhitaryan.

BVB force the pace after the break

Just before the break the visitors almost took the lead when Acheampong charged down the left and crossed onto the head of Mitrovic. The Serbian duly cushioned the ball into the path of Kjestan but his shot ballooned high over the bar. At the half-time whistle BVB had had six shots on goal to the visitors four and enjoyed the majority of possession (69%). But the scoreline pretty accurately reflected the game.

After the break it was all a little different. Now BVB dominated proceedings pressing much more effectively and, after Kagawa had slipped a shot wide on 47 minutes and Mkhitaryan done the same two minutes later, a fine move down the middle of the park involving Gündogan, Kagawa and Sahin allowed Immobile to skip a challenge and steer the ball beyond Proto’s outstretched left hand and into the net.

Anderlecht seemed content to defend and prevent going further behind and on 75 minutes with the statistics showing BVB 15-5 ahead on goal attempts, Immobile had the chance to add a second but took too long over the ball and was thwarted by Proto.

With ten minutes to go Mkhitaryan was unlucky when his effort from 18 yards squirmed wide, then again two minutes later, the same man was denied by Proto. Amazingly, the Belgians then contrived to go down the other end and equalise with their first noteworthy shot when a van den Borre cross allowed Mitrovic to nod home to make the final score 1-1.

Teams & Goals

UEFA Champions League, Matchday 6
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – RSC ANDERLECHT 1-1 (0-0)

Borussia Dortmund: Langerak – Durm, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer – Gündogan, Sahin – Großkreutz, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan – Immobile
RSC Anderlecht: Proto - Vanden Borre, Mbemba, Deschacht, N’Sakala – Dendoncker, Kljestan – Conté, Praet, Acheampong – Mitrovic
Substitutions: 66. Kirch for Gündogan, 75. Aubameyang for Schmelzer, 84. Blaszczykowski for Kagawa - 69. Tielemans for Kljestan, 79. Cyriac for Conté, 89. Heylen for Mitrovic
Goals: 1-0 Immobile (58., Sahin), 1-1 Mitrovic (84., Vanden Borre)
Corners: 4-3 (HT 3-2), Chances: 11-3 (3-2)
Referee: Mallenco (ESP), Yellow cards: none
Attendance: 65,851 (sold out), Weather: dry, 2 degrees

Prospects:

There are still nine points up for grabs in the Bundesliga before the winter break. The first game up is a visit to Hertha in Berlin on Saturday (kick-off 1530 CET). This game is followed by two home games with VfL Wolfsburg visiting the Signal Iduna Park on Dec 17 (2000 CET) and then Werder Bremen on December 20. In the meantime, all eyes will turn to Switzerland on December 15 when the draw for the next round of the Champions League takes place in Nyon.