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Post-Match Report

Kobel on the playoffs: "Two games with full focus on advancing"

Borussia Dortmund finished the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in 10th place. This was lower than looked possible after a strong start to the competition. This means BVB will now have to face two additional matches, but with the prospect of a more favourable draw further in the competition. 

There had been much discussion about the new format for Europe's elite club competition, with 36 teams in one league table. In any case, the final matchday offered excitement, constant changes of position and, from Dortmund's perspective, the long-awaited sense of achievement in the form of a first victory in 2025. Chants of "Europapokal" rang through the sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Apart from a phase of "10 or 15 minutes" in which "we couldn't get a grip", according to interim coach Mike Tullberg, the team delivered an impressive performance. Above all with the basic virtues of commitment, fight and passion.

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At 21:19 CET, shortly after Serhou Guirassy's opening goal, BVB were sitting in eighth place, and then again at 22:07. "We didn't really look at the table," Gregor Kobel assured us later, "but rather tried to play our game. One point was all that was missing. Bologna stings." On the one hand, a draw in Bologna a week ago would have spared the team taking a diversion via the playoff round and - in fifth place - would have taken them directly to the round of 16. That said, the team that finished fifth in the league phase (Atletico did so) will then have to face an absolutely top-class opponent in the form of Real, City or Bayern.

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Before Borussia Dortmund can start thinking about a possible place in the round of 16, they will have to beat Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the matches on 11/12 February (first leg away) and a week later at Strobelallee. Whether it will be Portugal's runaway leaders or Belgium's reigning champions will be decided by UEFA at 12 noon on Friday. "We have to accept the situation, we now face a play-off round," said Kobel and spoke of "two upcoming games with full focus on advancing. There are no preferences. We'll take what we're given."

P.S.: For those who already have their eyes on the round of 16: OSC Lille or Aston Villa are the opponents for the winners of the Dortmund/Atlanta vs Sporting/Brügge play-offs...
Boris Rupert

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