Matchreport
Schmelzer´s free-kick only enough for a 1-1 draw
The 6th Matchday of the Bundesliga season saw table-topping Borussia Dortmund narrowly fail to extend their record-breaking start. Three days after defeat in Naples in the Champions League they could only manage a 1-1 (1-0) draw in a hard-fought game against 1FC Nuremberg. Schmelzer was the BVB scorer.
Boris Rupert reports from Nuremberg
The 50,000 gathered in the sold-out Grundig-Arena had to endure a fairly lack-lustre game initially brightened only by a delightful Schmelzer free-kick on 37 minutes to give the visitors the lead and the hosts´ response, also from a free-kick, by Nilsson on 51 minutes. The "Club" were no doubt happy with the point, BVB less so
The Scenario:
Just 63 hours after the final whistle had blown on their Champions League defeat in Naples, BVB had to take the field again away from home, this time at the home of 1FC Nuremberg, one of three teams yet to register a league win this season. BVB, on the other hand came into the game looking to extend their best-ever start (5 games, 5 wins) and, having lost just once against the "Club" in their last 26 meetings, confidence was high.
Personnel Matters:
Kehl, Gündogan and Piszczek were joined on the sidelines by Hummels whose trapped nerve in his back meant he was unable to travel. Sokratis took his place having recovered from his own injury that saw him miss out against SSC Napoli. BVB made three further changes with the youngsters Durm (so far just one BL minute!) and Ducksch (13 mins) in the starting eleven. Aubameyang returned to the side with Sahin, Mkhitaryan and Lewandowski taking their places on the bench this time. Mak, Feulner and Gebhart were missing for the home side.
Tactics:
For the first time this season BVB opted to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Durm took over from Großkreutz allowing the latter to join Kuba and Bender in midfield. Aubamyeang and Reus flanked Ducksch up front. Nuremberg set out without a classic playmaker in a 4-1-4-1 system with Kyotake operating on the right wing.
The Game and Analysis:
The home side began in a very disciplined fashion usually getting nine men behind the ball to hinder BVB getting any pace into the game. BVB fashioned just two strikes on goal in this opening phase with first Reus, from an acute angle after seven minutes, and then Aubamyeang on the volley on 25 minutes. At the other end Nuremberg could count themselves unlucky as a Frantz header crashed against the woodwork after 19 minutes.
As is so often the case in football, when the game is dragging, free-kicks can be all important and so it was when a foul on Kuba saw BVB awarded a free-kick exactly 28 yards out. Pretty much everyone anticipated a regular taker like Reus, but it was Schmelzer who thundered a left-foot shot over the wall and into the top right-hand corner. It was an unstoppable shot and marked the second 1FCN had conceded in the first half of games this season, while it marked Schmelzer´s second goal....ever! His only other BL goal had come nearly two years ago against 1FC Cologne. This goal also meant that BVB had scored in 24 consecutive away games.
Bad news soon followed, however, as Reus could only limp his way to half-time following a tackle by Chandler on 34 minutes and had to make way for Hofmann at the start of the second period. Schmelzer, too, had to remain in the dressing room as the pain from a thigh injury meant he made way for Sahin. This meant that Durm switched to the left, Großkreutz returning to the right-side of defence.
Just five minutes had been played in the second half when a Plattenhardt free-kick cannoned around the box before falling to the feet of Nilsson. The leading scorer for 1FCN last year did not hesitate long before smashing the ball home.
Nuremberg now seemed happy with the point and dropped back allowing BVB a few chances. First Kuba shot just wide then he sent a lovely pass forward for Ducksch who, finding himself alone in front of Schäfer, wasn´t able to outfox the home custodian.
Now in a holding role alongside Bender, Sahin tried to coax the visitors forward and from the sidelines, Klopp, too, tried to bring new life to the game with Lewandowski replacing Kuba rather than Ducksch.
But very little happened in front of the 1FCN goal until, at last, on 77 minutes, BVB closed in four versus three on the 1FCN goal but unhappily Hofmann was unable to find the right pass at the right time and Schäfer was able to deny Lewandowski as he tried to force home the rebound. In time added on Weidenfeller was only able to watch as Esswein thundered a shot over the bar.
Prospects:
BVB visit TSV 1860 Munich in the German (DFB) Cup this coming Tuesday (1900CET) in their third consecutive away game before hosting SC Freiburg next Saturday (28 Sep kick off 1530CET) in the Bundesliga.