"Show that final conviction to get the ball over the line"

He might have adopted a vastly different approach in the victories over Rasenballsport Leipzig (1-0) and Hertha BSC (3-2 on penalties), but Thomas Tuchel described them both as "highly tactical games". On each occasion Borussia were facing opponents that could be "broken down tactically", but "now it's more of a mental game as we're clear favourites". The coach spoke of the "expectations and pressure" that one's league position brings about – and recalled previous games in which they have been favourites, saying: "We have not coped well in such situations so far."

Tuchel's scepticism is not without foundation. The 1-0 win over Bayern Munich was followed by a 2-1 defeat in Frankfurt, the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid by a 1-0 loss in Leverkusen, and the 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon by a 3-3 draw in Ingolstadt. Likewise, the 4-1 triumph over Borussia Mönchengladbach and a 2-2 draw in the return leg in Madrid were followed by a 1-1 stalemate in Cologne. All of these points, dropped away from home after excellent results, have left their mark on the table: if BVB had won just half of those games, they would have five more points on the board.

"We're very good on the big occasions," Tuchel admitted frankly. But next up is an opponent languishing right at the foot of the table. Darmstadt are currently seven points adrift of safety, have not registered a win since a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg on 22 October and have lost 11 of their last 12 matches. Only in the goalless draw with Gladbach did they pick up a point.

"We're very good on the big occasions"

It is an "entirely different scenario" compared to the matches against Leipzig and Berlin, said Tuchel, adding: "We need to free ourselves from expectations, play modestly, be content with small details and show our quality on the pitch, even if it's only for short passages." Of decisive importance will be the attitude BVB adopt against their hard-fighting opponents. Tuchel pulled no punches as he spoke about his side's poor conversion rate in recent matches. In Mainz or Bremen they were "sloppy" when presented with the opportunity to go 2-0 up. That continued against Leipzig and Hertha." Tuchel felt they were lacking "that final conviction to get the ball over the line" and demanded: "We must improve in this respect!"

"My preference would be to field the same formation," explained the coach, who continued: "But that won't be possible due to the injuries." However, he plans on playing the best-possible XI available. "Lisbon doesn't factor into it at all," he declared.
Boris Rupert