With key games coming up, has this setback come at the right time?

The match had all the hallmarks of an exciting Bundesliga encounter. For everyone associated with Borussia Dortmund, though, it ended in disappointment as their 41-match unbeaten run at Signal Iduna Park ended. The frustration – among the fans, players and staff – was therefore clear for all to see.

"Of course, it's disappointing to lose at home after such a long time. We wanted to avoid that," said Gonzalo Castro, who – like his team-mates – felt BVB were the architects of their own downfall. "We gave away two goals far too easily in the first half, that can't be allowed to happen." Nonetheless, that disappointment now needs to be channelled as BVB prepare for the important matches that await them in the coming weeks. Chief among them is Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus, where Peter Bosz's team will be hoping to put the Leipzig loss behind them and finally pick up their first points in Europe's elite club competition this term.

Unsparing analysis

"The next game's on Tuesday. They're coming thick and fast. We need to forget Leipzig as quickly as possible. It's done now, so it's important that we all look forward," said Castro, already with an eye on next week's games. Julian Weigl echoed his sentiments. "We can't completely bury our heads in the sand right now. We go again on Tuesday. We didn't do badly in every department and gave it everything we had after the break, showing our fighting spirit and morale," said the midfielder, who came off the bench for the second half.

Nonetheless, the analysis of the Leipzig game on Sunday is likely to be unsparing, with BVB coach Peter Bosz bemoaning numerous aspects of his side's display at the post-match press conference. "Even though Leipzig pressed well and exerted lots of pressure on us, we didn't deal with it well," said Bosz, adding: "We played the ball back to the goalkeeper too often. Our creative players are up top. If we play the ball back to the goalkeeper too often and he has to hit long balls, that's not good. That's not our style." Despite the criticism, however, the Dutchman did take a few positives from the second-half performance. "The team reacted well after going 3-1 down. The lads put in a fight in the second half," Bosz declared.

Table-of-the-table clash with Bayern?

Spirit alone won't suffice in Nicosia on Tuesday. But perhaps this small setback has come at the right time for BVB, in order to sharpen their senses and keep them on the right track in the coming weeks. Should they entertain aspirations of remaining in European competition after the winter break, a victory in Cyprus and in the return fixture against Nicosia at the start of November will be essential. In the DFB Cup clash with 1. FC Magdeburg too, heavy favourites and reigning champions BVB will be hoping to get through to the next round. As for the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund remain top of the table despite the defeat, though their lead over second-placed Bayern Munich has been cut to two points. Next up are trips to Frankfurt and Hannover, before the big match against the Bavarians in three weeks. It is already shaping up to be a top-of-the-table clash. Which is why it's all the more important to now look ahead rather than behind.
Dennis-Julian Gottschlich