3-2 in Stuttgart: BVB claim vital three points from fellow strugglers

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich  reporting

A sell-out 60,000 crowd in the Mercedes-Benz-Arena saw BVB totally dominate proceedings in the first half creating three good chances in the opening phase of the game and deservedly going ahead on 25 minutes through Aubameyang. Although Klein equalised courtesy of a deserved penalty Borussia soon bounced back and went in at half-time thanks to Gündogan on 39 minutes. Kagawa was the provider for both goals and kept the game in his grip as events calmed down following the break with BVB controlling matters and VfB simply unable to get into the game. A mistake by Baumgartl let Reus in to make it 3-1 with a minute remaining of normal time but there was still time for Niedermeier to grab a consolation goal for the hosts in time added on.

The Scenario:

Wins over Freiburg (3-0) and Mainz (4-2) had seen the Black n Yellows re-build their confidence and going into the game this evening they were out of the relegation zone for the first time since the 14th Matchday. The game at bottom-of –the-table VfB Stuttgart therefore represented another opportunity to grab points to secure safety. Statistics going into the game certainly offered hope with BVB having won five, drawn four of the last nine meetings. The last defeat was as far back as January 2010 (1-4) so all pointed to real hope especially considering that Huub Stevens’ team hadn’t won in seven home games and been without a goal for 554 minutes in front of their own fans.

Personnel Matters:

Jürgen Klopp left things well alone opting to start with the same eleven that had won in Mainz. Hummels, recovered from illness, was on the bench where he was joined by Blaszczykowski, back from injury.  Kehl and Bender on the other hand were still unavailable for selection as were Durm and Grosskreutz.  For the home side, Huub Stevens was without the services of his captain Gentner (suspended) and the injured Rüdiger, Didavi and Abdellaoue.

Tactics:

Huub Stevens selected five front-line defenders incorporated into a 4-4-2 system. Sakai lined up on the left of a back four also containing Schwaab, Baumgartl and Niedermeier. Klein and Gruezo lined up in front of them and the defence was further bolstered by Hlousek. Werner and Harnik were the nominal forwards in a defensive-looking line-up. Borussia Dortmund adopted their favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Kampl often droppi9ng deep in the first half. Kagawa and Reus waited further forward to receive his passes. Following the break Kampl’s role was taken over by Mkhitaryan as the Slowenian had to go off injured.

The Game and Analysis:

Within the first 15 minutes Kampl, Sahin and Gündogan had all tested VfB ‘keeper before Aubameyang, already with a goal chalked off himself, opened the scoring on 25 minutes for the visitors.

Reus had set off on a fine solo slalom, beating four men and then finding Kagawa as room got tight. The Japanese needed just one touch to square the ball across to Aubameyang who slipped the ball into the net from close range. The goal was his ninth of the season and 23rd in just 28 appearances, some record!

Gündogan cancels out Klein’s equaliser

But BVB joy was initially short-lived as Stuttgart grabbed an utterly unexpected equaliser when BVB failed to properly clear a corner and allowed Niedermeier to see a chance from close in only to be tugged back by Sahin giving referee Aytekin no option but to point at the spot. Sahin somehow avoided a yellow card but Klein punished the foul to make it 1-1 after 32 minutes.

It was hard to take because until then BVB had clearly been the better side but just as in recent weeks, BVB coped well with the setback and regained the lead seven minutes later when a delightful back flick by Kagawa found Gündogan whose shot with the outside of his foot slipped inside the post unstoppable for Ulreich in the VfB goal. BVB were back in front.

The half-time statistics echoed BVB dominance as they enjoyed 58% possession, won 55% of tackles and had 8 shots on goal compared to the hosts’ three. The second half started as the first had ended and Subotic soon sent a header flashing wide from a Sahin corner. On 53 minutes Kagawa, following fine work on the counter-attack by Reus and Aubameyang, was thwarted by Ulreich.

Two goals in the closing minutes

Borussia Dortmund focussed on managing the lead and the game which wasn’t all that difficult as VfB simply failed to find their game at all. And so the fans had to wait until the closing minutes before the next notable action when Weidenfeller clutched a harmless cross from Schwaab on 76 minutes. BVB went down the other end seeking the clinching third goal but on 79 and 81 minutes Reus was twice caught offside. But with a minute left of normal time the number 11 did grab that third goal as he capitalised on an awful Baumgartl error to make it 3-1. Niedermeier’s consolation header in time added on really was just that and BVB saw the game and three points home safely enough.  

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 22
VFB STUTTGART – BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-3 (1-2)

VfB Stuttgart: Ulreich - Schwaab, Baumgartl, Niedermeier, Sakai - Klein, Gruezo, Serey Dié, Hlousek - Werner - Harnik
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Subotic, Sokratis, Schmelzer – Sahin, Gündogan  – Kampl, Kagawa, Reus – Aubameyang
Substitutions: 56. Leitner for Gruezo, 73. Ibisevic for Hlousek, 78. Kostic for Schwaab - 46. Mkhitaryan for Kampl, 69. Blaszczykowski for Kagawa, 90. Ginter for Reus
Goals: 0-1 Aubameyang (25., Kagawa), 1-1 Klein (32., penalty, Sahin on Niedermeier), 1-2 Gündogan (39., Kagawa), 1-3 Reus (89.), 2-3 Niedermeier (90.+1, Ibisevic)
Corners: 2-5 (HT 1-1), Chances: 2-8 (1-5)
Referee: Aytekin (Oberasbach), Yellow cards: Dié - Kagawa, Piszczek
Attendance: 60,000 (sold out), Weather: dry, 9 degrees

Prospects:

The games come thick and fast now, and there are some crackers amongst them: on Tuesday BVB travel to Turin for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League tie with Juventus  (kick off 2045CET) then on Saturday the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK hosts the ultimate derby when FC Schalke 04 visit (kick off 1530CET).