Story

Further east: BVB land in Osaka

The land of the rising sun was already bathed in light when the plane with the Borussia Dortmund first team on board touched down in Japan from Bangkok on Monday morning. The country's third-largest city is BVB's second destination of the 2024 Asia trip. Here is a summary of what makes Osaka special and what the team have on their itinerary.

The city

With a population of almost 2.7 million, Osaka is one of Japan's most important urban centres. The metropolis radiates modernity and dynamism, while Osaka Castle provides a striking historical backdrop. Osaka is also famous for its culinary delights and is known as the "cuisine of the nation". Compared to the hustle and bustle of the streets of Bangkok, Osaka is more structured and organised. In terms of climate, temperatures are currently well above the 30 degree mark, but the air in Japan's south-west is much drier than in humid Thailand.

The schedule
Last night's 4-0 defeat and a gruelling overnight journey were still fresh in the minds of the BVB pros when they arrived in Japan. The first day will solely be dedicated to regeneration and recovery. The second day will be more varied, with a relaxed morning training session before spending the afternoon on marketing activities in the city. This will be followed in the evening by another training session at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium, which will be open to the public. BVB TV will also be streaming this session live from around 19:30 local time (12:30 CEST). The final day of the trip, next Wednesday, will see the second Asian friendly at Cerezo Osaka (kick-off 19:15/12:15 CEST). The group will fly back to Germany immediately afterwards.

The opposition

The standard of Borussia's preseason opponents is continuously rising. In Japan, Nuri Sahin's team will face Cerezo Osaka - the second club in the city to play in the J-League alongside Gamba Osaka. Cerezo are currently ranked 6th in the table and normally play their home games at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium. For the big match against BVB, however, they are temporarily moving to the Yanmar Stadium Nagai.

One player in particular stands out for all BVB fans: Shinji Kagawa. The Japanese player, who came to Dortmund from Cerezo in 2010 and played 216 competitive matches for the Black & Yellows, has been back with the ‘Sakura’ (meaning cherry blossoms) since the beginning of 2023 and is slowly winding down his career in Osaka after 13 years playing in Europe.

More News

Yan Couto jubelt mit der rechten Faust in der Luft.

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This wonderful tradition has endured since the late 1990s, offering a lovely experience to all nine days before Christmas Eve.","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"During his first visit to the children\u2019s hospital, Niko Kovac took plenty of time for detailed conversations. The coach spoke with mothers and fathers, nurses and doctors \u2013 and above all with Mustafa and Mia, Noel and Isabel. \u201cAt first, it\u2019s not easy when you come in here and see the sick children. It really affects you deeply. But then you see the hope the children have and how happy they are to see us. That in turn makes us happy and confident that the children will get better.\u201d<\/p>\nKovac listened very carefully and noted: \u201cWe live in an ideal world, we have our sport and we don\u2019t spend much time with things like this on our mind. But when you enter the children\u2019s ward in the hospital, you realise that everything we do is wonderful, but there are so many more important things in life, and health is the most important thing. Perhaps our visit is a small gesture that can give the children hope, trust and confidence. I certainly hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/16/kinderklinik/KK-Kovac.jpg\" data-assetref=\"KK-Kovac-1765879605448\"><\/p>\nWith a view to the hospital staff, the BVB coach said: \u201cWhen I see the attentive care the doctors and nurses give to the young patients, how every day they are confronted with sad faces but never give up, how they fight for every child: I think we can learn something from that. We out there must also stand together and fight against adversity. Every single player saw today what is most important in life: health.\u201d<\/p>\nEmre Can was particularly happy about a reunion. The captain had already visited little Mustafa in the hospital a few weeks ago. The welcome on ward K41, the paediatric oncology ward, was correspondingly warm when he arrived with the whole team this time. \u201cMustafa is extremely cool and extremely strong. He is a little fighter. We had a great time together last time, and again today. The children get a real boost when we come here. It\u2019s nice when we can put a smile on the children\u2019s faces,\u201d said Can, adding: \u201cI also take a lot away with me. Sure, football is important, but this here is real life. I have enormous respect for every child who is here. They are so brave and so strong, we can all learn a lot from them. I wish all the children here all the best, that they get well again and can go home.\u201d Mustafa is eight. He was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was four. Since then, he has been undergoing treatment on and off.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/16/kinderklinik/KK-Can.jpg\" data-assetref=\"KK-Can-1765879659608\"><\/p>\n\u201cThe visit from the BVB players is always a highlight of the Christmas season. We have many children in oncology who come to our clinic for months at a time and are particularly delighted to have a break from the routine. It\u2019s always nice to see the players taking the time to talk to the children and sign autographs. 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The children get a real boost when we come here. It\u2019s nice when we can put a smile on the children\u2019s faces,\u201d said Can, adding: \u201cI also take a lot away with me. Sure, football is important, but this here is real life. I have enormous respect for every child who is here. They are so brave and so strong, we can all learn a lot from them. I wish all the children here all the best, that they get well again and can go home.\u201d Mustafa is eight. He was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was four. Since then, he has been undergoing treatment on and off.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/16/kinderklinik/KK-Can.jpg\" data-assetref=\"KK-Can-1765879659608\"><\/p>\n\u201cThe visit from the BVB players is always a highlight of the Christmas season. We have many children in oncology who come to our clinic for months at a time and are particularly delighted to have a break from the routine. 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Here are the reactions to the game:<\/p>\n","xdm:linkURL":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/12/14/Kobel-Ill-take-the-blame-for-that-one.html","@type":"/apps/bvbweb/components/newssliderelements/editable","dc:title":"Kobel: \u201cI\u2019ll take the blame for that one\u201d","repo:modifyDate":"2025-12-14T18:14:00Z"}},"displayTag":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"displayTag","title":"Display Department","multiValue":true,"value":[""],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"metadescription":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"metadescription","title":"Meta Description","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"linkTarget":"_self","link":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/12/14/Kobel-Ill-take-the-blame-for-that-one.html","stageImages":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"stageImages","title":"Image (Stage Image)","multiValue":true,"value":["/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-reaktionen/13M-Kobel.jpg"],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"experience":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"experience","title":"Experience Fragment","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"appExport":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"appExport","title":"App Export (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"showDate":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"calendar","name":"showDate","title":"Show Date and Time (CET)","multiValue":false,"value":"14.12.25 18:14 Z","exportedType":"calendar"},"teaserText":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"teaserText","html":"There was no doubt that Jobe Bellingham\u2019s sending off in the 53rd minute was the \u201cgame changer\u201d, and everyone was in agreement that a lot went wrong in that incident. Here are the reactions to the game:<\/p>\n","title":"Teaser Text","multiValue":false,"value":"There was no doubt that Jobe Bellingham\u2019s sending off in the 53rd minute was the \u201cgame changer\u201d, and everyone was in agreement that a lot went wrong in that incident. Here are the reactions to the game:","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"Sebastian Kehl<\/b> (in the mixed zone): \u201cAt 11 vs 11, we had a lot of control over the game, and I\u2019m convinced that we would have won with eleven players. The red card in the 53rd minute was a game changer, and after that, it was a different game. And Freiburg earned the point in the end. Of course, you should try to have a little more ball control even when you\u2019re down a man, to provide relief, making the ball stick up front. But it was not an easy game. Freiburg built up a lot of pressure, making life difficult for us with plenty of crosses and a busy penalty area. We should not have put ourselves in that situation. I think we could have made it a different game. There are a lot of things you could be done better in that incident. So it was just one big chain of events.\u201d<\/p>\nNiko Kovac<\/b> (on DAZN): \u201cWe played a full half with ten men. So you have to live with a 1-1 draw in Freiburg \u2013 they\u2019re a good team. Of course, we are not satisfied with the result. But if you look at how it came about, I have to live with it \u2013 and I can! We made life difficult for ourselves with the sending off. That\u2019s football: when you\u2019re making decisions, you also make mistakes. It cost us the game. We controlled the game in the first half, were very solid, did not allow them anything much. When you\u2019re a man down, it\u2019s difficult to play football.\u201d<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-reaktionen/13A-Couto.jpg\" data-assetref=\"13A-Couto-1765735606288\"><\/p>\nGregor Kobel<\/b> (on DAZN): \u201cIf the red card doesn\u2019t happen, the game looks different. We hadn\u2019t allowed them much until then, we had control of the game and were very dominant. It was certainly a misunderstanding (the situation that led to the red card [ed.]). I initially felt that he had a lot of space. At the end of the day, I have to play a better pass so that he doesn\u2019t commit this foul. I\u2019ll take the blame for that one. We were really under pressure after that. Then Höler scores a crazy goal. The way the game went, you have to be satisfied with the 1-1.\u201d<\/p>\nYan Couto<\/b> (in the mixed zone): \u201cWe came here to win this game because it was like a mini final for second place. In the first half, we played well. We have to try to score more goals and put the game to bed early. It was difficult after the red card.\u201d \n Transcribed by Boris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","title":"Text","multiValue":false,"value":"Sebastian Kehl<\/b> (in the mixed zone): \u201cAt 11 vs 11, we had a lot of control over the game, and I\u2019m convinced that we would have won with eleven players. The red card in the 53rd minute was a game changer, and after that, it was a different game. And Freiburg earned the point in the end. Of course, you should try to have a little more ball control even when you\u2019re down a man, to provide relief, making the ball stick up front. But it was not an easy game. Freiburg built up a lot of pressure, making life difficult for us with plenty of crosses and a busy penalty area. We should not have put ourselves in that situation. I think we could have made it a different game. There are a lot of things you could be done better in that incident. So it was just one big chain of events.\u201d<\/p>\nNiko Kovac<\/b> (on DAZN): \u201cWe played a full half with ten men. So you have to live with a 1-1 draw in Freiburg \u2013 they\u2019re a good team. Of course, we are not satisfied with the result. But if you look at how it came about, I have to live with it \u2013 and I can! We made life difficult for ourselves with the sending off. That\u2019s football: when you\u2019re making decisions, you also make mistakes. It cost us the game. We controlled the game in the first half, were very solid, did not allow them anything much. When you\u2019re a man down, it\u2019s difficult to play football.\u201d<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-reaktionen/13A-Couto.jpg\" data-assetref=\"13A-Couto-1765735606288\"><\/p>\nGregor Kobel<\/b> (on DAZN): \u201cIf the red card doesn\u2019t happen, the game looks different. We hadn\u2019t allowed them much until then, we had control of the game and were very dominant. It was certainly a misunderstanding (the situation that led to the red card [ed.]). I initially felt that he had a lot of space. At the end of the day, I have to play a better pass so that he doesn\u2019t commit this foul. I\u2019ll take the blame for that one. We were really under pressure after that. Then Höler scores a crazy goal. The way the game went, you have to be satisfied with the 1-1.\u201d<\/p>\nYan Couto<\/b> (in the mixed zone): \u201cWe came here to win this game because it was like a mini final for second place. In the first half, we played well. We have to try to score more goals and put the game to bed early. It was difficult after the red card.\u201d \n Transcribed by Boris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","exportedType":"text/html"},"id":"editable-3304a94386","prio":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"prio","title":"Prio (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"headline":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"headline","title":"Headline","multiValue":false,"value":"Kobel: \u201cI\u2019ll take the blame for that one\u201d","exportedType":"text/plain"},"author":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"author","title":"Author","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"teaserType":"relatedContent","match":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"content-fragment","name":"match","html":"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/matches/football/profis/2025_2026/22/2569165_14_sc_freiburg-borussiadortmund<\/p>","title":"Related Match","multiValue":false,"value":"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/matches/football/profis/2025_2026/22/2569165_14_sc_freiburg-borussiadortmund","exportedType":"text/plain"},"externalId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"externalId","title":"External ID (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":"2061570862","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayOnHome":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"displayOnHome","title":"Display in news wall on homepage","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"url":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"url","title":"Vanity URL (LEAVE EMPTY FOR AUTOMATIC VANITY URL. 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On Matchday 14 of the Bundesliga, BVB came away with a 1-1 (1-0) draw away at SC Freiburg.<\/p>\n","xdm:linkURL":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/12/14/1-1-Borussia-lose-a-man-and-lose-control-but-still-come-away-with-a-point.html","@type":"/apps/bvbweb/components/newssliderelements/editable","dc:title":"1-1 \u2013 Borussia lose a man and lose control, but still come away with a point","repo:modifyDate":"2025-12-14T16:32:00Z"}},"displayTag":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"displayTag","title":"Display Department","multiValue":true,"value":[""],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"metadescription":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"metadescription","title":"Meta Description","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"linkTarget":"_self","link":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/12/14/1-1-Borussia-lose-a-man-and-lose-control-but-still-come-away-with-a-point.html","stageImages":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"stageImages","title":"Image (Stage Image)","multiValue":true,"value":["/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14M-Freiburg.jpg"],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"experience":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"experience","title":"Experience Fragment","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"appExport":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"appExport","title":"App Export (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"showDate":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"calendar","name":"showDate","title":"Show Date and Time (CET)","multiValue":false,"value":"14.12.25 16:32 Z","exportedType":"calendar"},"teaserText":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"teaserText","html":"Borussia Dortmund managed at least one point in the last away match of 2025 despite being a man down, and are now level on points with the second placed team in the table. On Matchday 14 of the Bundesliga, BVB came away with a 1-1 (1-0) draw away at SC Freiburg.<\/p>\n","title":"Teaser Text","multiValue":false,"value":"Borussia Dortmund managed at least one point in the last away match of 2025 despite being a man down, and are now level on points with the second placed team in the table. On Matchday 14 of the Bundesliga, BVB came away with a 1-1 (1-0) draw away at SC Freiburg.","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"In an intense, exciting encounter, BVB deservedly took the lead after half an hour through Ramy Bensebaini after Carney Chukwuemeka had hit the post ten minutes earlier. But the Baden-based side, who primarily looked to hit their guests on the counterattack, created chances in the first half \u2013 and they found themselves with a numerical advantage in just the 53rd minute because Jobe Bellingham was given a red card. <\/p>\nThe scenario:<\/b>   \n Over the past six matchdays, only Bayern Munich (16) had collected more points than Borussia Dortmund (14), while Freiburg had picked up eleven of their 16 points this season in their own stadium. BVB had won the last seven meetings between the sides..<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-3.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-3-1765726159658\"><\/p>\nPersonnel matters:  <\/b> \nFor the first time this season, the team was missing four players: Aaron Anselmino, Waldemar Anton, Julian Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer were all unavailable. Maximilian Beier returned to the bench. Emre Can, Julian Ryerson, Carney Chukwuemeka and Serhou Guirassy joined the team. <\/p>\nTactics:  <\/b>As in the Champions League, BVB started with two strikers (Fabio Silva alongside Guirassy) and a number 10, with Chukwuemeka primarily operating from the inside-left. In the four-strong midfield line behind them, Ryerson moved to the left side. Freiburg also met Dortmund's 3-4-1-2 with a back three or back five. Both attacked high and the two sides gave each other hardly any air to breathe in the first 30 minutes. Ginter was always close to Guirassy, Jung moved out of the back line when Fabio Silva dropped deep, which the Dortmund player often did, receiving balls in the middle of the park. Borussia came forward mainly down the right wing, via the agile Couto.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-1.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-1-1765726138427\"><\/p>\nThe match & analysis: \n <\/b>From the very first minute on, the match was played at a high intensity. After just ten minutes, Couto and Manzambi saw yellow cards for a tussle on the touchline. There were also fiery scenes on the pitch: Guirassy headed a well-timed Fabio Silva cross just past the left post in the 9th minute, and shortly afterwards, Manzambi beat Can around the left hand corner of the six yard box, but he did not get enough behind his shot, meaning that Kobel could easily stop it on 9 minutes.<\/p>\nBorussia Dortmund had enjoyed 66 percent of the possession in the first 20 minutes \u2013 and also carved out the first big chance. After a one-two with Guirassy, Chukwuemeka took aim from an acute angle, but his shot hit the side netting in the 21st minute. Shortly afterwards, Can earned the chance to open the scoring as a result of some high pressing, which caused Freiburg to lose the ball in their half, but his shot from 17 metres was not accurate or powerful enough on 24 minutes. After exactly half an hour, the Black & Yellows were rewarded for their courageous performance: Couto struck a free kick from the right side into the box, Bensebaini chested the ball down and prodded it over the line to make it 1-0 in the 31st minute. Even though BVB was clearly in the driver\u2019s seat, Freiburg consistently looked dangerous on the counter, and shortly before the break, Günter had his side\u2019s third and best chance to score an equaliser, but the hosts\u2019 captain fired horribly wide in the 45th minute.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-4.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-4-1765726122396\"><\/p>\nEight minutes after the restart, Jobe Bellingham saw a red card. After a risky pass from Kobel, the Englishman tried to put his body in the way 19 metres out in front of his own goal, but caught Treu, who was bursting forward at pace, and was given his marching orders by referee Zwayer for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity. It was Bellingham\u2019s first foul in the game. Günter fired the resulting free kick just past the left-hand post.<\/p>\nBVB responded to going a man down by bringing on Pascal Groß for Fabio Silva, and had hardly any extended periods of possession thereafter. The match took place almost entirely in the Dortmund half. Kobel brilliantly tipped a follow-up shot from Treu around the post in the 69th minute, and also showed strong reactions to save Suzuki\u2019s shot, which had taken a wicked deflection off Bensebaini, in the 74th minute. But 60 seconds later, Freiburg were celebrating the equaliser Höler did well to get on the end of Günter\u2019s cross and finished brilliantly, finding the far post. Freiburg had 11 shots to BVB\u2019s 0 after the red card and thought they'd made it 2-1, but Matanovic\u2019s goal did not count as he was ruled offside on 86 minutes.<\/p>\nOutlook:<\/b>   \nIn the last game of 2025, Borussia Dortmund will face Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday (kick-off: 20:30 CET). They will continue in the new year on 9 January in Frankfurt. Both games can be seen live not only on Sky, but also on Sat.1 [Germany]. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\nTeams & goals<\/b><\/p>\nFootball Bundesliga, Matchday 14 \n<\/b>Sunday, 14 December 2025, 15:30 CET<\/p>\n SC FREIBURG \u2013 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 (0-1)<\/b><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Grafik.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Grafik-1765726064376\"><\/p>\nSC Freiburg:<\/b> Atubolu \u2013 Kübler, Ginter, Jung \u2013 Treu, Eggestein, Osterhage, Günter \u2013 Manzambi, Suzuki \u2013 Höler \n Bor. Dortmund: <\/b>Kobel \u2013 Can (Süle, 90+2), Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini \u2013 Couto (Adeyemi, 90+2), Bellingham, Nmecha, Ryerson \u2013 Chukwuemeka  (Svensson, 78) \u2013 Guirassy (Beier, 78), Fabio Silva (Groß, 56) \n Bench:<\/b> Müller, Makengo, Ogbus, Grifo, Höfler, Adamu, Irié, Matanovic, Scherhant \u2013 Meyer, Drewes \n Goals:<\/b> 0-1 Baumgartner (31, Ouédraogo), 1-1 Couto (75, Guirassy) \n Corners:<\/b> 6-0 (half-time: 3-0), Chances:<\/b> 7-5 (3-5) \n Referee:<\/b> Zwayer (Berlin), Yellow cards:<\/b> Manzambi, Eggestein, Kübler \u2013 Couto, Ryerson \n Attendance:<\/b> 34,700 (sold-out), Weather:<\/b> bright, 5 degrees<\/p>\n","title":"Text","multiValue":false,"value":"In an intense, exciting encounter, BVB deservedly took the lead after half an hour through Ramy Bensebaini after Carney Chukwuemeka had hit the post ten minutes earlier. But the Baden-based side, who primarily looked to hit their guests on the counterattack, created chances in the first half \u2013 and they found themselves with a numerical advantage in just the 53rd minute because Jobe Bellingham was given a red card. <\/p>\nThe scenario:<\/b>   \n Over the past six matchdays, only Bayern Munich (16) had collected more points than Borussia Dortmund (14), while Freiburg had picked up eleven of their 16 points this season in their own stadium. BVB had won the last seven meetings between the sides..<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-3.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-3-1765726159658\"><\/p>\nPersonnel matters:  <\/b> \nFor the first time this season, the team was missing four players: Aaron Anselmino, Waldemar Anton, Julian Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer were all unavailable. Maximilian Beier returned to the bench. Emre Can, Julian Ryerson, Carney Chukwuemeka and Serhou Guirassy joined the team. <\/p>\nTactics:  <\/b>As in the Champions League, BVB started with two strikers (Fabio Silva alongside Guirassy) and a number 10, with Chukwuemeka primarily operating from the inside-left. In the four-strong midfield line behind them, Ryerson moved to the left side. Freiburg also met Dortmund's 3-4-1-2 with a back three or back five. Both attacked high and the two sides gave each other hardly any air to breathe in the first 30 minutes. Ginter was always close to Guirassy, Jung moved out of the back line when Fabio Silva dropped deep, which the Dortmund player often did, receiving balls in the middle of the park. Borussia came forward mainly down the right wing, via the agile Couto.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-1.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-1-1765726138427\"><\/p>\nThe match & analysis: \n <\/b>From the very first minute on, the match was played at a high intensity. After just ten minutes, Couto and Manzambi saw yellow cards for a tussle on the touchline. There were also fiery scenes on the pitch: Guirassy headed a well-timed Fabio Silva cross just past the left post in the 9th minute, and shortly afterwards, Manzambi beat Can around the left hand corner of the six yard box, but he did not get enough behind his shot, meaning that Kobel could easily stop it on 9 minutes.<\/p>\nBorussia Dortmund had enjoyed 66 percent of the possession in the first 20 minutes \u2013 and also carved out the first big chance. After a one-two with Guirassy, Chukwuemeka took aim from an acute angle, but his shot hit the side netting in the 21st minute. Shortly afterwards, Can earned the chance to open the scoring as a result of some high pressing, which caused Freiburg to lose the ball in their half, but his shot from 17 metres was not accurate or powerful enough on 24 minutes. After exactly half an hour, the Black & Yellows were rewarded for their courageous performance: Couto struck a free kick from the right side into the box, Bensebaini chested the ball down and prodded it over the line to make it 1-0 in the 31st minute. Even though BVB was clearly in the driver\u2019s seat, Freiburg consistently looked dangerous on the counter, and shortly before the break, Günter had his side\u2019s third and best chance to score an equaliser, but the hosts\u2019 captain fired horribly wide in the 45th minute.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Freiburg-4.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Freiburg-4-1765726122396\"><\/p>\nEight minutes after the restart, Jobe Bellingham saw a red card. After a risky pass from Kobel, the Englishman tried to put his body in the way 19 metres out in front of his own goal, but caught Treu, who was bursting forward at pace, and was given his marching orders by referee Zwayer for preventing a clear goalscoring opportunity. It was Bellingham\u2019s first foul in the game. Günter fired the resulting free kick just past the left-hand post.<\/p>\nBVB responded to going a man down by bringing on Pascal Groß for Fabio Silva, and had hardly any extended periods of possession thereafter. The match took place almost entirely in the Dortmund half. Kobel brilliantly tipped a follow-up shot from Treu around the post in the 69th minute, and also showed strong reactions to save Suzuki\u2019s shot, which had taken a wicked deflection off Bensebaini, in the 74th minute. But 60 seconds later, Freiburg were celebrating the equaliser Höler did well to get on the end of Günter\u2019s cross and finished brilliantly, finding the far post. Freiburg had 11 shots to BVB\u2019s 0 after the red card and thought they'd made it 2-1, but Matanovic\u2019s goal did not count as he was ruled offside on 86 minutes.<\/p>\nOutlook:<\/b>   \nIn the last game of 2025, Borussia Dortmund will face Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday (kick-off: 20:30 CET). They will continue in the new year on 9 January in Frankfurt. Both games can be seen live not only on Sky, but also on Sat.1 [Germany]. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\nTeams & goals<\/b><\/p>\nFootball Bundesliga, Matchday 14 \n<\/b>Sunday, 14 December 2025, 15:30 CET<\/p>\n SC FREIBURG \u2013 BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-1 (0-1)<\/b><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/12/14/bl-spielbericht/14-Grafik.jpg\" data-assetref=\"14-Grafik-1765726064376\"><\/p>\nSC Freiburg:<\/b> Atubolu \u2013 Kübler, Ginter, Jung \u2013 Treu, Eggestein, Osterhage, Günter \u2013 Manzambi, Suzuki \u2013 Höler \n Bor. Dortmund: <\/b>Kobel \u2013 Can (Süle, 90+2), Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini \u2013 Couto (Adeyemi, 90+2), Bellingham, Nmecha, Ryerson \u2013 Chukwuemeka  (Svensson, 78) \u2013 Guirassy (Beier, 78), Fabio Silva (Groß, 56) \n Bench:<\/b> Müller, Makengo, Ogbus, Grifo, Höfler, Adamu, Irié, Matanovic, Scherhant \u2013 Meyer, Drewes \n Goals:<\/b> 0-1 Baumgartner (31, Ouédraogo), 1-1 Couto (75, Guirassy) \n Corners:<\/b> 6-0 (half-time: 3-0), Chances:<\/b> 7-5 (3-5) \n Referee:<\/b> Zwayer (Berlin), Yellow cards:<\/b> Manzambi, Eggestein, Kübler \u2013 Couto, Ryerson \n Attendance:<\/b> 34,700 (sold-out), Weather:<\/b> bright, 5 degrees<\/p>\n","exportedType":"text/html"},"id":"editable-4313265134","prio":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"prio","title":"Prio (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"headline":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"headline","title":"Headline","multiValue":false,"value":"1-1 \u2013 Borussia lose a man and lose control, but still come away with a point","exportedType":"text/plain"},"author":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"author","title":"Author","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"teaserType":"relatedContent","match":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"content-fragment","name":"match","html":"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/matches/football/profis/2025_2026/22/2569165_14_sc_freiburg-borussiadortmund<\/p>","title":"Related Match","multiValue":false,"value":"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/matches/football/profis/2025_2026/22/2569165_14_sc_freiburg-borussiadortmund","exportedType":"text/plain"},"externalId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"externalId","title":"External ID (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":"-619504888","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayOnHome":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"displayOnHome","title":"Display in news wall on homepage","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"url":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"url","title":"Vanity URL (LEAVE EMPTY FOR AUTOMATIC VANITY URL. 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