Borussia Dortmund were beaten 2-1 (0-1) at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Matchday 5 of their UEFA Champions League campaign. Following a tidy – and in some spells good – first-half from the Black & Yellows in which they went 1-0 ahead courtesy of Aubameyang, the visitors turned the game on its head in the second half to take the points.

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting

The 65,849 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK saw Aubameyang race onto Yarmolenko's spectacular assist and opening the scoring on the 31-minute mark, in what was very much a meeting of equals between Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham in Europe's elite club competition. In part the hosts had Bürki – who made an outstanding save to deny Dier's header – to thank for their half-time lead, but the Swiss shot-stopper was powerless to stop Kane when he fired the ball into the bottom corner from 16 metres four minutes after the interval. The goal gave Spurs the momentum and they later went 2-1 ahead through Son on 76 minutes.

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The scenario:
BVB had failed to pick up a single win from the opening four games of their Champions League campaign. A third-place finish, a realistic possibility, would see them qualify for the UEFA Europa League knockout stages, while second spot in the group would still be within reach if Apoel Nicosia could do them a favour against Real Madrid. Group leaders Tottenham were unbeaten, having won three and drawn one of their first four games, and had already booked their place in the last 16 of the competition.

Personnel matters:
Aubameyang was recalled to the squad and made the starting XI, although Pulisic (muscular problems), Durm (hip operation), Piszczek (lateral collateral ligament), Reus (rehab following partial cruciate ligament tear), Rode (public bone) and Sokratis (rib cartilage damage) were all sidelined with injury and unavailable. Zagadou replaced the Greek international, while Guerreiro also returned to the starting line-up after missing the defeat in Stuttgart. Philipp and Schürrle, meanwhile, dropped to the bench. Tottenham were without Alderweireld at the heart of defence.

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Tactics:
Peter Bosz lined his team up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, although the Black & Yellows were slightly more cautious than usual when their opponents had the ball, not pressing so high up and attacking Tottenham from a compact midfield. The London-based outfit, meanwhile, opted for a back five when the hosts had the ball in a bid to close down space. Going forward, full-backs Rose and Aurier moved up into midfield to create superiority in numbers.

The match & analysis:
It developed into a tense affair from the very first minute. Though Borussia Dortmund put in a tidy first-half performance, they showed few, if any, signs of danger going forward in the opening stages. They looked most effective down the right flank, with Yarmolenko one of the standout performers. Indeed it was the Ukrainian who had their first effort, unleashing a shot from the edge of the box after 13 minutes which Lloris, between the sticks for the visitors, dealt with comfortably.

A short while later, with 19 minutes on the clock, Yarmolenko threaded an outstanding ball into the path of Aubameyang, but the Gabon forward was put off by Lloris racing off his line to narrow the angle and poked his shot wide of the upright. The next dangerous foray forward came 12 minutes later and involved the same two players, with Yarmolenko brilliantly flicking a Götze pass into the path of Aubameyang. This time the striker kept his cool against the Spurs shot-stopper, drilling the ball into the far corner from 12 metres to make it 1-0 (31).

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Aubameyang fires the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0.

Bürki with stunning save to thwart Dier

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Bürki was forced off with an injury in second-half stoppage time.

Tottenham really began to make their mark on the match after half an hour, forcing Bürki into brilliant saves to deny Son (30) and Eriksen (38, 40). But by far the visitors' best chance was thwarted on the 41-minute mark when the Swiss custodian clawed a Dier header off the line with a fingertip save. Tottenham's fortunes improved after the restart, however, and they levelled on 49 minutes after BVB lost possession on the right touchline. Alli switched the play at speed, picking out Kane in the box and the forward showed no hesitation as he drilled the ball low past Bürki and into the bottom corner from 16 metres out.

The visitors took increasing control of the game, pinning BVB back during spells. Dier shot wide from 18 metres on 58 minutes and Bürki plucked the ball off Alli's toes at the last moment (62). On the whole, however, the second half was a very tense affair much like the opening period had been. At the other end Toljan fired well over the frame of the goal from 20 metres (63). It was a pity, for not too much later came the next setback for the hosts. Alli forced his way past two BVB players and set up Son, in a central position, who was afforded far too much time in front of goal and picked his spot before curling the ball into the top corner (76).

BVB still managed to manoeuvre themselves into shooting positions, but an outstretched leg from Dier denied Aubameyang a late equaliser. Spurs launched an immediate counter and, although Bürki prevailed in a one-on-one with Llorente, he remained lying prostrate on the ground after receiving a boot in the face following a challenge with the Spaniard. The keeper received lengthy treatment but could not continue and was replaced by Weidenfeller for the final few minutes.

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Prospects:
On Saturday the 151st Ruhr derby with Schalke 04 will take place in Dortmund. There will be no midweek fixtures in the week that follows, with BVB next in Bundesliga action at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday 2 December (15:30 CET).

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