3-2 : Barrios fires BVB to an away victory in Nürnberg
Borussia have responded to the threat posed by VfB Stuttgart! On the 32nd Gameday of the season they won 3-2 (1-1) at Nürnberg to maintain a three point lead over VfB. Having failed to register in two consecutive away games, Lucas Barrios was the hero of the hour scoring all three goals.
Reporting from Nürnberg are Boris Rupert and Bastian Bergmann
The easyCredit stadium was sold out with nearly 49000 fans enjoying fine weather but a sluggish first half during which both teams made the most of their only chance. Barrios headed BVB in front on 27 minutes only to see Frantz equalise for the hosts just three minutes later. After the break BVB turned the screw and were two goals ahead courtesy of the Argentinian´s second and third strikes on 62 and 78 minutes. Eigler, netting the hosts´ second six minutes from time, heralded a turbulent final phase of the game.
The Scenario:
The Stuttgart win in Bochum had slightly altered both teams´ perceptions going into the game. BVB were now level on points with VfB whilst Nuremburg could only slip into the bottom three by losing heavily. The home side, whose defeat to Wolfsburg had ended a run of four unbeaten at home, came into today´s game in 14th spot whilst BVB, with just the one win in their last six away games, were in fifth position. This was a happy hunting ground for the visitors as they had only lost one in three games at the venue and had not lost there since 1992.
Personnel Matters:
The home side were without their first-choice centre backs as both Wolf and Breno were missing. Maorh and Nordtveit were the replacemenst while up front they also had to do without the man who had scored their last goal against BVB, Charisteas. BVB had to do without dede (replaced by Schmelzer), Kehl and Zidan, with Valdez coming into the side...
Tactics:
...which meant a slight change in system. Valdez played off Barrios up front always looking to harass the opposition when they had the ball. Without Zidan, BVB used the masked man, Sahin, as their conduit whilst Bender focussed almost solely on defensive duties looking after Gundogan. The home side lined up in what was the regular BVB formation of 4-2-3-1 while BVB opted for a 4-4-2. This meant Barrios´ job was a little easier with closer support. After the break, however, BVB introduced Hajnal for Bender and thus reverted to 4-1-3-2 whilst Nuremburg also went on the attack by sending on Bunjaku.
The Game and Analysis:It was a crucial game for both teams and the first twenty minutes were dominated by a desire not to make mistakes.
Borussia Dortmund, having lined up in a nominally more attacking way, struggled to create chances. It was unlike so many away displays in that seldom did the team press the opposition, seldom was the passing accurate, and often the ball was overplayed. The hosts weren´t any better, with a vague effort by Tavares on 12 minutes being the only noteworthy effort. It was going to take something weird to break the stalemate and it so nearly happened when a long ball from Diekmeiere sailed towards Weidenfeller only to take a nasty bounce and cause the ´keeper a momentary scare.
On 25 minutes the game started for real. Both the home team and their fans were becoming increasingly frustrated by the referee. At last he showed Pinola a yellow card (quite correctly) but the home team were rattled. Kuba had done him for pace and he resorted to dragging him down on the edge of the box. As the referee approached Pinola continued to tantrum and was lucky that his game didn´t end there and then!
And proper justice was swift to follow as Sahin guided the free kick beyond the home defence and onto the waiting head of Barrios at the back post. The headed goal marked an end to a six hour wait for a goal.
Unfortunately, rather than now taking the game by the scruff of the neck, BVB were pegged back just three minutes later when Frantz capped a fine run with a cool finish to make it 1-1 on the half hour. Advantage lost!
Naturally the goal set BVB back a bit and although they were doing their utmost the only real chance they were able to create before half-time was when Hummels just failed to convert another Sahin free kick. Quite frankly, things could only get better in the second half.
To be fair, coach Klopp also recognised this and took the chance to introduce Hajnal immediately after the break. Sahin was now the only holding player in midfield, but Nuremburg still had the first chance of the second half when Weidenfeller thwarted a fine volley from Choupo-Moting on 54 minutes.
Things were certainly going better than in the first period, and yet BVB were still most dangerous from dead-ball situations, with Schaefer denying a Subotic header from a Sahin corner on 55 minutes. Slowly but surely the BVB game was coming together and the, at that point undeserved, lead was a good example of this as Sahin played in Barrios with a sublime pass to take the lead just after the hour mark.
And this time, BVB were quick to put the game to bed. Valdez was just unable to connect with a cross from Kuba, but then
a great attack involving Schmelzer and Grosskreutz found Sahin in the box. His left footed shot was parried by Schaefer, but the ball fell to Barrios who, though his first effort was charged down, followed up to force the ball home from close hand to complete a fine hat-trick. With thirteen minutes to go. the Argentinian´s 18th goal of the season had made it 3-1. Game over?
Maybe not. BVB sat back a little too much and Eigler duly took advantage to score with the home side´s third shot of the half. With just six minutes to go we were guaranteed a grandstand finish, but BVB were able to survive the three minutes added on to climb up to fourth in the table.
[24.04.] Bundesliga, 32nd Gameday
1. FC NÜRNBERG - BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2:3 (1:1)
1.FC Nürnberg: Schäfer - Diekmeier, Maroh, Nordtveit, Pinola - Ottl, Tavares - Frantz, Gündogan, Bunjaku - Choupo-Moting.
Borussia Dortmund:Weidenfeller - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender, Sahin - Kuba, Großkreutz - Valdez - Barrios.
Substitutions:69. Boakye and Risse for Choupo-Moting and Tavares, 80. Eigler for Frantz - 46. Hajnal for Bender, 81. Santana for Kuba
Goals:0:1 Barrios (27., free kick Sahin), 1:1 Frantz (30., Ottl), 1:2 Barrios (62., Sahin), 1:3 Barrios (78., Sahin), 3:2 Eigler (84., Ottl).
Corners: 5:5 (HT 2:3), Chances: 4:6 (2:2).
Referee:Kircher (Rottenburg), Yellow Cards: Pinola
Attendance:48.548 (sold out). Weather: sunny 19 degrees
Prospects:
On Saturday May 1, BVB play their last home game of the seaon against current Champions VfL Wolfsburg (kick off 15:30 CET).