Match Report
3-1 with 10 men – BVB shine then hold on for nervy win
Boris Rupert reports
Supported by an away contingent of 5,000 supporters, BVB initially made the final match before the Christmas break their own, completely set the tone in the first half and took a 3-0 lead thanks to three goals from Malen (25), Beier (28) and Brandt (30) in the space of under five minutes. Everything went like clockwork in that short spell and the 3-0 scoreline at half-time flattered Wolfsburg. However, the balance of power shifted after the restart. Denis Vavro reduced the deficit to 3-1 in the 58th minute and Pascal Groß was sent off shortly afterwards. But the 10 men of Borussia battled passionately to see their lead over the line.
The scenario:
Wolfsburg had picked up only eight points on home turf (five fewer than at the same stage of last season), while Dortmund had lost four of their six away matches this season and were on an eight-match winless streak on the road overall. The Black & Yellows had won 10 of their previous 12 Bundesliga meetings with Wolfsburg and had scored more than twice as many goals (116) as VfL (57) across their 54 matches (33 victories, 11 draws and 10 defeats).
Personnel matters:
There were two changes compared to the match against Hoffenheim a week ago: Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen started in place of Yan Couto and Giovanni Reyna, who scored the only Dortmund goal in that game against TSG. Incidentally, it was the same line-up that started the DFB-Pokal tie on 29 October, when BVB succumbed to a 1-0 defeat after 120 minutes. Brandt returned to the fold after missing four competitive matches – none of which Borussia won. The absentee list included the injured Marcel Sabitzer as well as Niklas Süle, Julian Ryerson and Kjell Wätjen, who played for the U23s on Saturday.
Tactics:
BVB seamlessly transitioned between 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1 formations. Beier lined up to the right of Brandt in the middle of the attacking midfield quartet, with Nmecha operating behind them in a central role. All-rounder Groß lined up in the right-back position and was joined in the back four by Can, Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini, who took the corners. Off the ball, Beier operated level with Guirassy and BVB then lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Wolfsburg initially took to the pitch in a 3-3-2-2 formation that withdrew deep into their own half, where they lined up in a 5-3-2 (later a 5-4-1) formation, and only pressed when their opponents crossed the halfway line. Gittens was mostly marked by two opponents: Baku and Fischer.
The match & analysis:
The courageous line-up, which included five attacking players (Wolfsburg had three), was immediately reflected in the balance of play. After only 80 seconds, Brandt had a good shooting opportunity on the left of the six-yard box but fired over the frame of the goal. He then attempted a shot on the turn from a position level with the penalty spot on the quarter-hour mark. Borussia looked determined, won 65% of the challenges in the opening stages, made the play (64% possession) and were met by a solid defence, but covered themselves well going forward so that VfL did not have a free route to goal after regaining the ball.
After build-up work from Brandt and Gittens, Guirassy was played into the box in the 18th minute and had a great chance to make it 1-0 but leaned backwards and spurned a big chance. That was the only flaw: None of the first four shots (Wolfsburg did not have any) in the first 20 minutes were on target. But the first shot that was on target did find the back of the net....
Vavro stepped on Brandt's calf during a sprint in the box. Referee Jöllenbeck could have pointed to the spot but ultimately opted for a corner-kick, which Bensebaini delivered to the completely unmarked Malen, who slotted the ball over the line in the six-yard box (25). Beier upped the lead to 2-0 193 seconds later. Brandt spotted the opening, Beier ran perfectly into the space and curled the ball in off the inside of the upright with the outside of his right boot from a centre-left position. Things soon got even better: Can and Malen set Beier in motion down the right flank and he cut the ball back to Brandt, who fired a low shot home from 15 metres out to make it 3-0 (30). In view of the shot count of 7-0 – the final three found the net – the scoreline was completely deserved. Svanberg registered Wolfsburg's first effort via a header in the 34th minute but Kobel saved it.
The home team switched to a back four for the second half (4-3-3) and brought on two attack-minded players in Tiago Tomas and Lukas Nmecha. Felix Nmecha's brother looked set to pull a goal back four minutes after the restart and was clean through on Kobel, but he made a brilliant save to turn it behind for a corner. BVB were too open at the back in this phase. Amoura also had a good opportunity (53). Vavra eventually made it 3-1, facing no opposition whatsoever as he headed home a corner-kick (58).
It was a completely different game in this phase and Borussia had to take care to ensure the "Wolves" did not completely swing the momentum in their favour. Groß was ever so slightly late with his attempted clearance as Nmecha broke through and received his marching orders (62). Anton lined up in his stead in the back four, with Malen making way. At the other end, Schlotterbeck was upended in the penalty area following a corner. The decision not to award a penalty for the incident was a very generous interpretation of the rules (65)...
The team now dug their heels in in a match that they had dominated for 45 minutes. Operating in a 5-3-1 formation, they threw themselves into every challenge. Having been played in by Brandt, Gittens forced VfL goalie Grabara into a save (69). Couto replaced the exhausted Beier (75). BVB were pinned back deep into their own half but did not allow VfL any chances, even if the hosts had turned the shot count in their favour by the 84th minute (11-10). There were eight minutes of stoppage time. But the 10 Black & Yellows saw them through as well.
Outlook:
BVB have the shortest winter break of any club, with their campaign already resuming in 19 days. On Friday 10 January (20:30 CET), Bayer Leverkusen will visit SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
Teams & goals
Bundesliga Matchday 15
Sunday 22 December 2024, 17:30 CET
VFL WOLFSBURG 1-3 (0-3) BORUSSIA DORTMUND
VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Fischer (Tiago Tomas, 46), Vavro, Koulierakis – Baku, Arnold, Maehle (Kaminski, 86) – Svanberg (L. Nmecha, 46), Gerhardt (Özcan, 75) – Wind, Amoura (Wimmer, 86)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Groß, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – F. Nmecha – Beier (Couto, 75), Brandt (Reyna, 86) – Malen (Anton, 64), Guirassy, Gittens (Adeyemi, 86)
Substitutes: Müller, Zesiger, Dardai, Behrens – Meyer, Duranville, Kabar, Azhil
Goals: 0-1 Malen (Bensebaini, 25), 0-2 Beier (Brandt, 28), 0-3 Brandt (Beier, 30), 1-3 Vavro (Arnold, 58)
Corners: 10-4 (0-3 at half-time), chance ratio: 2-7 (0-6)
Referee: Jöllenbeck (Müllheim/Baden), red card: Groß (professional foul, 62), yellow cards: Koulierakis, Gerhardt, Vavro – Malen, Couto
Attendance: 28,917 (sold-out), weather: initially dry, then rainy, 4 degrees