BVB fight back to draw 2-2 with Stuttgart

Just as in the 2-0 defeat in Mainz Jürgen Klopp’s team was probably the better side, but failed to make their dominance pay, such as when Kagawa hit the bar on 33 minutes. VfB Stuttgart then set about making BVB pay for their failure to score in the first half with a showing that benefitted from a strangely lacklustre second half display from the hosts. But at the end BVB almost turned the game on top of its head when Antonio Rüdiger had to clear a Piszczek effort from the line in time added on.

The Scenario:

A look at the table was not entirely satisfying for either team with BVB in tenth and VfB propping up the table. The visitors arrived having scored just once in four outings and without an away win in twelve starts. The pressure was on them especially following a 0-2 home defeat to Hoffenheim on Saturday. Just hours before the game kicked off, VfB fired their General Manager Fredi Bobic meaning that their preparations had been less than ideal. Of the 92 meetings between the sides, BVB had won 31 including the last three games. Stuttgart had won 38 times while in the Signal Iduna Park BVB won twenty times but a noteworthy fact was that BVB had remained goalless at home against VfB more than any other club.

Personnel Matters:

With Mkhitaryan’s injury in the 2-0 defeat in Mainz BVB’s injury problems had become even more severe. Already without Blaszczykowski , Gündogan, Kirch, Reus, Sahin and Ji, BVB could at least welcome back Hummels to the bench. Jürgen Klopp, taking charge of the side for the 209th (a record!) time, made three changes from the side that took the field in Mainz. Subotic, Schmelzer and Immobile came in for Ginter, Durm and Ramos. Armin Veh made just the one change from Saturday with Harnik making way for Gruezo. Hlousek, Abdellaoue, Ginczek and Maxim were all out for the visitors, however Ibisevic was back in the squad following illness.

Tactics:

VfB opted initially for a 4-4-2 formation employing a diamond. BVB chose to bolster their defence with a 4-3-2-1 system. When they had the ball the visitors dropped deep into their own half forming a veritable wall on the eighteen yard box. Oriel Romeu was tasked with a man-to-man job on Kagawa which he did well while Bender for the hosts charged forward when BVB had the ball.

The Game and Analysis:

It was a difficult first half for BVB. Whilst they dominated possession (60%), won more tackles and had more shots (9-5) they had little to show for their efforts. That said, particularly in the last fifteen minutes of the half, Dortmund had chances to take the game away from the visitors.

Kagawa lifts the ball onto the bar

On 33 minutes Kagawa beautifully took control of a pass from Piszczek before lifting a shot through the VfB ‘keeper’s hands only to see the ball bounce off the bar. Following two woodwork strikes at the weekend the theme seemed to be continuing. Three minutes later Jojic pulled a shot wide, then Großkreutz forced Ulreich to make a save with four first half minutes remaining. Nuri Sahin, speaking to Sky at half-time, said, “We have been in charge but haven’t turned that into goals.”

Given that they arrived bottom of the table, Stuttgart held their own well creating their own chances in that first half. Gentner’s lob, following a lovely pass from Didavi, floated over Weidenfeller but also just wide on 10 minutes. Weidenfeller had to be at his best on 23 minutes, too, when Werner tested him and then a minute later Gruezo tried his luck from way out. Albeit set up in a defensive formation, VfB carried a real threat going forward.

After the break, just as in Mainz, the game was turned on its head. Following a seemingly innocuous corner, BVB failed to clear the ball with Schmelzer reacting slowly to allow a cross into the box from Gentner to find Didavi who, unmarked made it 1-0 on 48 minutes despite a desperate lunge by Subotic to block.

Borussia seemed unnerved by the goal making more and more passing errors allowing Stuttgart to settle into their lead with relative comfort. On 66 minutes Klopp brought on Ramos for Bender, clearly lacking match fitness. This meant that Großkreutz moved into defensive midfield alongside Jojic, but so soon, BVB suffered another blow when a long ball from Rüdiger was mis-controlled by Schmelzer allowing the ball to drop to the feet of Werner who quickly found Didavi with a square ball to make it 2-0 on 68 minutes.

Aubameyang scores, then Immobile hits the equaliser

How would BVB react to this latest blow? The Black n Yellows took the game by the scruff of the neck and threw themselves forward. On 70 minutes a Kagawa header from a Schmelzer cross signalled the first real intent of the half, and then, shortly thereafter Aubameyang scored benefitting from a mistake by Romeu. It was the last thing the man from Gabon was to do, because he and Großkreutz were soon replaced by Hummels and the youngster Joseph Gyau making his Bundesliga debut.

Rüdiger clears off the line from Piszczek

It was all-or-nothing stuff now and at the other end Weidenfeller was happy to see Gentner not make it 3-1 on 83 minutes. Then, at last, BVB were the grateful beneficiaries of a mistake by Ulreich in the VfB goal. Schmelzer swung a free-kick into the box which the ‘keeper seriously miscalculated allowing Immobile to pounce at the back of the six-yard box to volley in the equaliser. Now BVB were really going for the winner, but the last chance came and went when Antonio Rüdiger, in time added on, cleared a Piszczek effort from the line to ensure the game finished 2-2.

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 5
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – VFB STUTTGART  2-2 (0-0)

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Sokratis, Subotic, Schmelzer – Bender, Jojic – Aubameyang, Kagawa, Großkreutz – Immobile
VfB Stuttgart: Ulreich - Klein, Schwaab, Rüdiger, Sakai - Gruezo, Oriol Romeu,  Leitner - Gentner, Didavi - Werner
Substitutions: 66. Ramos for Bender, 74. Hummels and Gyau for Aubameyang and Großkreutz - 78. Ibisevic for Werner, 79. Niedermeier for Didavi, 89 Kostic for Gentner
Goals: 0-1 Didavi (48., Gentner), 0-2 Didavi (68., Werner), 1-2 Aubameyang (73., Piszczek), 2-2 Immobile (86., free-kick Schmelzer)
Corners: 5:5 (HT 0-3), Chances: 7-5 (2-2)
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin), Yellow cards: Sokratis, Subotic - Romeu, Gentner
Attendance: 79,500, Weather: rainy, 11 degrees

Prospects:

The games keep on coming! On Saturday BVB travel to Schalke for the Derby. The Schalke ‘keeper Ralf Fährmann declared following his team’s 3-0 win in Bremen, that “We are ready for BVB!”. Kick-off is at 1530 CET.