Sancho scores in 1-0 win as BVB book semi-final berth!

Boris Rupert reporting from Mönchengladbach

Erling Haaland missed the chance to put his side in front half an hour into a highly tactical game in which defenders largely came out on top. He did manage to find the back of the Gladbach net shortly after the interval, but the goal was ruled out for a foul. Jadon Sancho eventually opened the scoring on the hour mark with his fourth goal of this season's competition for BVB, who had to play the five minutes of stoppage time without the red-carded Mo Dahoud.

The scenario:  
Five and a half weeks after Dortmund's 4-2 defeat to the Foals in the Bundesliga, the two teams went head-to-head again in Mönchengladbach. Before that loss, BVB had won each of their 12 previous competitive meetings, scoring 33 goals in the process. This was their fourth meeting in the DFB Cup: Gladbach had won both of their previous home ties (1986 and 2003), whereas Dortmund won their most recent encounter 2-1 at home in 2019.

Personnel matters: 
BVB were still without Akanji, Schmelzer and Witsel, but Delaney returned to the starting XI after recovering from an infection and replaced Reyna, who dropped to the bench.

Tactics:  
It was a like-for-like switch, with the Dane slotting into the American's left central midfield position. Bellingham played to the right of centre, with Dahoud between them in the central role he had fulfilled against Bielefeld on Saturday. Dortmund, in a 4-3-3 system, stuck with the attacking triumvirate of Reus, Haaland and Sancho. Gladbach, who opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation and pushed their full-backs high up the pitch, looked to win the ball deep and counter at speed with passes in behind the defence.

The match & analysis:
There were two hearts-in-mouths moments at the outset: Thuram failed to connect with Hofmann's ball into the six-yard box in the second minute, before Guerreiro went down and had to be replaced by Schulz two minutes later.

The first half was characterised by high pressing as each side looked to disrupt the other's build-up play early. The two teams largely managed to keep each other away from dangerous areas, and there had only been seven shots by the half-time whistle (five for Gladbach, two for Dortmund). Reus fired the first Dortmund attempt high into the stands in the ninth minute, but the second effort nine minutes before the break almost brought about the opening goal. Hummels set Haaland in motion with a perfect pass but the Norway international could not quite get the ball out from under his feet, which allowed Elvedi to sprint back and disrupt the forward's shot.

The ball did find its way into the back of the Dortmund net in first-half stoppage time, but scorer Thuram was offside when Plea played the ball and the whistle sounded with the score goalless.

Dahoud had a shot from 16 metres blocked by Elvedi on 48 minutes, before BVB had a goal chalked off themselves in the 52nd minute. Sancho started the move on the left by picking out Reus' run. But in his haste to meet the German's cross, Haaland was deemed to have stepped up Bensebaini's foot; referee Stegemann retrospectively reviewed the incident on the video monitor before opting to disallow the goal. At the other end, Bensebaini unleashed a furious effort from 16 metres that drew a wonderful save from Hitz (59).

Then, in the 66th minute, Reus intercepted a pass from Neuhaus and BVB countered at lightning pace via Haaland and Reus, who picked out Sancho over on the left side. The Englishman sprinted through on goal and made it 1-0, but had to be replaced by Hazard directly afterwards and left the pitch limping.

There was more action in the Gladbach box minutes later when goalkeeper Sippel took out Delaney following a corner. It looked like a penalty, but Stegemann opted for another corner instead (73). Seven minutes before the end, Reus played a ball from deep in his own half to Haaland who beat Elvedi for pace but had his effort beaten away by Sippel. Hummels, while on the ground, got his foot to the ball from the ensuing corner but could not direct it on target.

With the five minutes of stoppage time under way, Bensebaini and Dahoud were both booked for a challenge – and the Dortmund man was sent off as it was his second yellow card (90+2). Gladbach then won three corners in a row but BVB held firm.

Outlook: 
BVB's campaign continues with a trip to FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening (kick-off 18:30 CET). Three days later (Tuesday at 21:00 CET), Sevilla will be at Signal Iduna Park for the return leg of their Champions League tie.

Teams & goals