Match Report
BVB climb table thanks to 4-0 home win
Boris Rupert reporting
Who will replace Guirassy? Beier and Nmecha were the partial answer to that question in the opening 45 minutes, with the duo scoring in the seventh and 40th minutes respectively to give the hosts a deserved 2-0 lead at the break. Brandt's direct free-kick (66) and Gittens (77) then increased the lead to 4-0.
The scenario:
Seventh versus fifth. Borussia Dortmund had won 15 of their previous 16 home games against Sportclub Freiburg, scoring 47 goals and conceding five. Freiburg had lost only two of their previous five away matches in the current campaign (in Munich and in Leipzig), while BVB had won all seven of their home matches across all competitions.
Personnel matters:
The ill Guirassy withdrew at short notice, but overall the injury list was significantly shorter in length. In addition to Guirassy, "only" the names of Adeyemi (fitness training), Can (suspension for a red card) and Süle (syndesmosis injury) were missing from the teamsheet.
Tactics:
Like in the previous games, Nmecha occupied the central midfield position in front of the defence in the Black & Yellows' 4-1-4-1 formation. Sabitzer and Brandt played in attacking midfield. Beier was Guirassy's direct replacement at centre-forward, with Malen (right) and Gittens (left) on either side. Freiburg lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system. The highly flexible former Borussia player Osterhage sat deep in midfield during build-up and to the right of Höler as a supporting striker off the ball. The visitors pressed high and courageously, forcing possession turnovers like the one that almost led to an equaliser in the 25th minute.
The match & analysis:
Dortmund controlled proceedings from the beginning and took the lead with their first shot at goal. Sabitzer suddenly sped up the play. His pass from a deep centre-right position was immediately played by left-back Bensebaini, who had pushed up and inside, into the path of Beier, who showed good technique to bring the ball under control, kept his cool in the box and slotted past Atubolu and into the left corner. Gittens could have doubled the lead after 20 minutes but his shot from a really tight angle could not get the better of Freiburg's goalie.
The visitors also posed a threat with their first shot at goal. In fact, there were three "first" shots at goal. Doan intercepted a misplaced pass in the Dortmund rearguard thanks to a high press and fed Grifo, who was unmarked on the edge of the box. His shot was well saved by Kobel; Höler hit the bar on the follow-up and then got to the ball again and headed goalbound, but Anton intervened on the line (25). At the other end, Malen played a one-two with Brandt before firing the ball across goal from the right of the box. The keeper was beaten this time too but was saved by an outfield player (Ginter denying Brandt, 27).
The game subsequently calmed down again a little. Borussia worked with concentration but initially lacked precision when it came to two promising opportunities for Malen, but then they struck again: Gittens squared the ball to Nmecha, who simply went for it from distance and made it 2-0 from a good 20 metres out. Borussia then created one additional opportunity before the half-time interval, but Malen's shot was turned behind for a corner (45).
The second period got off to an intensive start. BVB wanted clarity on the pitch and on the scoreboard, and registered five shots at goal in the first five minutes after the restart. But somehow a Freiburg defender always managed to get a leg in the way. The visitors had a player sent off: Osterhage, who had already been cautioned, brought down Sabitzer 24 metres from goal and was shown a second booking. Brandt curled the ensuing free-kick into the top-right corner – 3-0 (66). Goal number four was just as lovely: Bensebaini threaded the ball into the box from the left and Gittens beat an opponent before curling the ball into the far corner (77).
Outlook:
Borussia Dortmund have home advantage in two consecutive league games. FC Bayern will next visit SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on Saturday (18:30 CET). But the Black & Yellows will be on the road in the meantime and will be in action in Zagreb on Wednesday (21:00 CET).
Teams & goals
Bundesliga Matchday 11
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 4-0 (2-0) SC FREIBURG
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson (Kabar, 82), Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (Couto, 78) – Nmecha – Malen, Sabitzer (Groß, 68), Brandt (Reyna, 78), Gittens (Duranville, 78) – Beier
SC Freiburg: Atubolu – Kübler (Rosenfelder, 61), Ginter, Lienhart, Günter – Eggestein, Höfler (Adamu, 61) – Doan (Sildillia, 73), Grifo (Muslija, 73) – Osterhage, Höler (Makengo, 81)
Substitutes: Meyer, Paulina, Campbell, Lührs – Müller, Weißhaupt, Gregoritsch, Philipp
Goals: 1-0 Beier (Bensebaini, 7), 2-0 Nmecha (Gittens, 40), 3-0 Brandt (direct free-kick, 66), 4-0 Gittens (Bensebaini, 77)
Corners: 7-0 (2-0 at half-time), chance ratio: 7-1 (4-1)
Referee: Dr. Brych (Munich), red card: Adamu (violent conduct, 90+3), red card: Osterhage (repeated foul play, 63), yellow card: Couto
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: overcast, 4 degrees