Match Report
Decimated Dortmund lose 2-0 despite second-half improvement
Personnel matters
The Black & Yellows had to do without Marcel Sabitzer (calf injury) and Salih Özcan (not eligible to play). Aaron Anselmino (bench) and Ramy Bensebaini (starting line-up) returned to the squad. In addition to Bensebaini, Yan Couto and Serhou Guirassy moved into the starting line-up after starting as substitutes three days earlier against St. Pauli (3-2). Emre Can, Julian Ryerson and Fabio Silva took their places on the bench.
The match
The only time his team showed what coach Niko Kovac was hoping to see was in the opening minutes, when they put pressure on the hosts' central defenders with a high press. But the game changed with Spurs' first attack: Daniel Svensson was forced to intervene just in time to block a shot from former Leipzig player Xavi Simons (6). The second corner led to the first goal: although the intended recipient of the cross, Odobert, initially failed to connect with the ball, he then won a challenge against Julian Brandt and sent the ball sharply into the box. Defender Romero redirected the low cross into the net to make it 1-0 (14). The Black & Yellows penalty area was then under constant threat in the subsequent period of play.
Yan Couto had great difficulty dealing with Spence on Tottenham’s left wing, and his counterpart on the other side, Svensson, was shown a red card (26) after VAR intervention for a foul on Odobert, which was certainly unintentional. Mats Hummels on Prime: “For me, it wasn’t a red card. It’s a freeze frame decision.” The team switched to a 4-4-1 formation (previously 3-4-3), but struggled to hold their own and were losing out in many challenges. After a one-two with Pedro Porro, Odobert broke through on the right wing and crossed low to Solanke, who struck the ball against his own leg but was still able to celebrate the 2-0 lead as the ball went over the line via the left post (37). The half-time deficit was well deserved, given that BVB had only managed 0 shots on goal compared to 11 for the home side and won only 36% of their challenges.
Two changes for the second half
Kovac initially stabilised the defence during the break, bringing on Julian Ryerson and Emre Can for the attacking players Brandt and Guirassy. Now playing in a 5-3-1 formation (with Adeyemi up front), Can moved into midfield and Ryerson took Svensson’s position at full-back. A free kick from the Norwegian from 20 metres looked promising, but then curled to the left and flew past the target. The game was now mostly being played in Spurs’ half, and Kovac reacted again, bringing on Fabio Silva and Carney Chukwuemeka for Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha for the final 30 minutes.
After 70 minutes, Tottenham became more active again, creating two big chances that Kobel saved. In the closing stages, BVB continued to try to make up for the first 45 minutes and amend the scoreboard, but apart from Schlotterbeck’s header at the start of stoppage time, they failed to create any serious scoring opportunities.
Outlook
The final matchday of the league phase is scheduled for Wednesday next week (28 January), when Borussia Dortmund host Inter Milan at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. But first, the action moves to Berlin in the Bundesliga: on Saturday (18:30 CET, live on Sky), BVB face 1. FC Union.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2–0 (2-0) BORUSSIA DORTMUND
UEFA Champions League, Matchday 7
Tuesday, 20. January 2026, 21:00 CET
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario – Pedro Porro, Danso, Romero, Udogie – Bergvall (63, Byfield), Gray – Odobert, Xavi Simons, Spence – Solanke (70, Kolo Muani)
Substitutes: Austin, Kinsky; Hardy, Rowswell, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Akhamrich, Scarlett, Thompson, Rowswell
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Couto (76, Beier), Bellingham, Nmecha (65, Chukwuemeka), Svensson – Adeyemi (65, Fabio Silva), Guirassy (46, Can), Brandt (46, Ryerson)
Substitutes: Meyer, Ostrzinski; Süle, Duranville, Anselmino, Mane
Goals: 1-0 Romero (14, Odobert), 2-0 Solanke (37, Odobert)
Red cards: Svensson (26, foul play)
Yellow cards: Gray – Ryerson
Referee: Nyberg (Schweden)
Attendance: 52,713 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Boris Rupert
