Match Report
4-2 loss in Kiel – Reyna and Gittens goals too little too late
Boris Rupert reporting from Kiel
The promoted club waited for mistakes – and consistently exploited them. With 15,034 spectators watching on at a sold-out Holstein-Stadion, Machino (27), Harres (32) and Bernhardsson (45+4) established a 3-0 goal lead at the break. It was not until the 71st minute that BVB created their first chance, Reyna scoring from 17 metres out to make it 3-1. Gittens pulled another goal back with 12 minutes left. Then it became exciting, especially as Kiel were reduced to 10 men in the final minutes. But Arp slotted into an empty BVB net deep into stoppage time.
The scenario:
The teams are in 17th and eighth places respectively. Kiel were five points behind the relegation play-off place, which was exactly the same gap between BVB and a Champions League berth. It was the first Bundesliga meeting between the two clubs, after two cup ties (BVB won 4-0 in the quarter-final in 2012 and 5-0 in the 2021 semi-final).
Personnel matters:
Adeyemi (ill), Groß (suspended) and Süle (injured) had stayed in Dortmund. Anton, Can, Bensebaini and Meyer, who had missed out against Leverkusen, were able to make the journey northbound and were later joined by Schlotterbeck, who returned to the starting XI along with Can and Bensebaini. Kabar, Lührs and Couto dropped to the bench. In addition, Nuri Sahin made two further changes: Duranville replaced Adeyemi and Beier made way for Sabitzer.
Tactics:
Kiel operated with a back five off the ball – closely protected by another defensive bank of four – took an aggressive approach towards the ball and opposition, doubled up on Dortmund's quick wingers Gittens and Duranville, and relied on direct counter-attacks. In possession, Rosenboom (centre-right) and Machino (centre-left) pushed far forward to support lone frontman Harres. For BVB, Sabitzer took over the role of Beier (bench) in the attacking centre-right midfield position alongside Brandt. Left-back Bensebaini advanced high up the pitch and drifted inwards in the 4-3-3 system, creating numerical superiority in and around the opposition box.
The match & analysis:
BVB registered 84% possession in the first 10 minutes, but it was Kiel who created the first major goalscoring chance in the fifth minute through former Dortmund youth player Porath, who sprinted forward down the left wing following a simple loss of possession but failed to beat Kobel. Otherwise, the action in the opening 25 minutes took place almost exclusively in the Kiel half. But the Black & Yellows could not build up pressure and were too static with their attacking attempts.
Holstein exclusively waited for their opponents to make mistakes. And then struck ruthlessly. Brandt lost the ball during build-up play in the 27th minute and Bernhardsson fed the advancing Machino, whose right-footed shot from around 17 metres out nestled in the top left corner. Five minutes later, Kiel attacked down the right flank. Rosenboom had space and crossed to the edge of the six-yard box, where Harres came out on top and headed into the right corner.
BVB did not find their way into the game at all in this period, had hardly any control and initially had luck (and Kobel's abilities) to thank for not conceding a third goal a matter of minutes before the break. Bernhardsson's low shot was thwarted by Kobel, with Porath firing narrowly wide of the right upright on the follow-up (41). But the team were hit on the counter again in stoppage time, this time down the right side of defence. A move involving Remberg culminated in Harres picking out the run of Bernhardsson on the left of the box and he made it 3-0 from close range.
At the start of the second period, the stadium was completely clouded in smoke due to pyrotechnics from the Kiel fan block. The referee and the teams returned to the dressing rooms. After approximately six minutes, the match was resumed. Following the introductions of Anton and Beier in place of the full-backs Ryerson and Bensebaini, Dortmund switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Can, Anton and Schlotterbeck forming the three-man defence and Beier as a second striker alongside Guirassy. However, this line-up also failed to come up with an idea of how to break down the league's worst defence this season.
It was a piece of individual play from Reyna, who simply went for it from 17 metres after taking several steps, that reduced the deficit to 3-1 in the 71st minute. Schlotterbeck intercepted the ball seven minutes later after a cross from Gittens had been cleared, and Beier played the ball from a centre-left position in the box to the Englishman, who scored BVB's second goal. Substitute Holtby was sent off for a foul on Nmecha with four minutes left on the clock. Schlotterbeck's header was kept out by keeper Weiner in the 88th minute. It was now a power play. Referee Petersen opted for eight minutes of added time. Arp slotted into an empty net on the final counter.
Outlook:
Kiel was the first of three consecutive away fixtures in the space of eight days. BVB will be away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday (20:30 CET), before paying a visit to Bologna the following Tuesday (21:00 CET).
Teams & goals
Bundesliga Matchday 17
Tuesday 14 January 2025, 18:30 CET
HOLSTEIN KIEL 4-2 (3-0) BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Holstein Kiel: Weiner – Becker, Zec, Komenda (Geschwill, 76) – Rosenboom, Remberg, Knudsen, Porath (Javorcek, 85) – Bernhardsson (Gigovic, 69), Machino (Holtby, 76) – Harres (Arp, 76)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson (Anton, 46), Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (Beier, 46) – Nmecha – Duranville (Couto, 59), Sabitzer (Reyna, 59), Brandt, Gittens – Guirassy
Substitutes: Dähne, Ivezic, Kelati, Pichler – Meyer, Campbell, Wätjen, Kabar, Lührs
Goals: 1-0 Machino (Bernhardsson, 27), 2-0 Harres (Rosenboom, 32), 3-0 Bernhardsson (Harres, 45+4), 3-1 Reyna (Anton, 71), 3-2 Gittens (Beier, 78), 4-2 Arp (90+9)
Corners: 1-9 (1-6 at half-time), chance ratio: 5-2 (5-0)
Referee: Petersen (Stuttgart), red card: Holtby (foul play, 86), yellow cards: Porath – Duranville, Anton
Attendance: 15,034 (sold-out), weather: drizzling rain, 6 degrees