Following three consecutive defeats Borussia Dortmund celebrated a famous victory on Tuesday night. Last year’s finalists defeated SSC Napoli 3-1 (1-0) in a top class and exciting game ensuring that they have every chance of progressing in the Champions League.

 

 

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Your reporter is Boris Rupert

A capacity crowd of 65,829 at Signal Iduna Park saw a hard-fought match in which Borussia took the lead from a penalty taken by Marco Reus after only nine minutes. In a pulsating second half Blaszczykowski doubled the advantage after the interval on 60 minutes before Insigne pulled one back for the visitors 10 minutes later. Second-half substitute Aubameyang restored the two-goal advantage in the 78th minute to ensure that BVB have qualification to the second round in their own hands.

The Scenario:

Following a 2-1 defeat in Naples and a 1-0 defeat in the last game against Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund were under pressure to perform in order that they reach the round of the last sixteen under their own steam. Two wins were an absolute necessity in their final group games with a two-goal margin against SC Napoli crucial. The Italians came into the game needing only a draw to secure their place in the next round.

Personnel Matters:

Missing Friedrich (not eligible) and the injured Hummels and Subotic BVB were without three top-class central defensive options. Bender, having fulfilled this role for part of the recent game in Naples, came into the team with Kehl coming into defensive midfield to start alongside Sahin in defensive midfield for the first time since Matchday three in Bremen (1-0).  The visitors were without Hamsik, Mesto and Zuniga.

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Robert Lewandowski is pulled by Federico Fernandez in the box – penalty!

Tactics:

Napoli opened with a fluid system showing them as 4-4-2 changing to a 4-2-3-1 when BVB were in possession. Both wide men operated high up the field offering support to Higuain, the lone striker with Pandev tucked in close behind.

The Game and Analysis;

The Black n Yellows benefitted from an early goal following a cautious start. In the general kerfuffle surrounding a corner, referee Carballo adjudged Fernandez’ grappling with Lewandowski earned a penalty. Reus duly stepped up and converted his fourth penalty in the BVB colours on 10 minutes.

The goal triggered a BVB attacking storm, the highlight of which saw Mkhitaryan draw players towards him before sending a perfect pass in to Lewandowski whose shot was a tadge too high. Shortly thereafter Reus forced Reina in the Napoli goal to show his worth when he clutched a free-kick from the edge of the box.

The game was then disrupted by a string of injuries. Bender had to leave the field having copped a wallop from Albiol which later resulted in another stoppage as he had to exchange shirts. Kehl, too, required treatment for a thigh injury.

With BVB off the pace, Napoli grew in strength and saw both Pandev (23 mins) and Callejon (28mins) coming close, the first denied by Weidenfeller, the latter just missing the post.

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Jakub Blaszczykowski and Sebastian Kehl congratulate Marco Reus after his penalty.

Gradually BVB came back, and Mkhitaryan gave the home side some impetus with a smart strike from the edge of the box that Reina did well to save. Then a defensive error allowed Kuba to feed Lewandowski only for the Pole to be denied by fine keeping. The closing minutes of a tight first half saw the visitors dominate with Armero forcing a fine save from Weidenfeller in the dying embers of the first period.

The start of the second half saw BVB almost double their lead. Mkhitaryan was, once again, the instigator. His pass found Kuba, who fed Reus whose shot just skipped wide with the clock on 53 minutes. Just a minute later Mkhitaryan again played in Kuba whose square ball found Lewandowski only for a defender’s leg to deny a goal.

So, having tried to play others in, the Armenian took matters into his own hands and, having beaten no less than four, fired in a shot which Reina could only partly parry needing Albiol to clear from the line. Seconds later Higuain appeared in front of Weidenfeller only to be denied by a goalkeeping bit of magic, and so just 30 minutes remained.

The second half was of a high standard and chances flowed almost by the minute. Sahin won the ball wide, found Reus who barrelled forward down the left and slipped the ball to Kuba who, casually slid the ball into the net through Reina’s legs to make it 2-0 on the hour.

Not long after, however, the loss of the ball in midfield saw Behrami, Higuain and Insigne combine to slip the ball past the onrushing Weidenfeller and into the net off the post on 71 minutes.

It was end to end stuff. Aubameyang, on as a sub, latched onto a superb Kuba pass only for Reina deflect the ball with his heel beyond the far post. With 16 minutes to go, BVB were still searching for the crucial third and then, with four minutes to go a swift combination between Lewandowski and Aubameyang  saw the home side 3-1 ahead again! With four minutes left Mkhitaryan went close but the game was won.

Prospects:

On December 11, BVB conclude their group with a game in Marseille. This coming Saturday BVB visit FSV Mainz before travelling to Saarbruecken in the DFB Cup next week.