Alcácer the sole scorer as BVB lose 2-1 in Augsburg

Boris Rupert reporting

Borussia Dortmund dominated against an Augsburg side that pressed aggressively and posed a threat going forward too, with goals from Dong Won Ji in the 24th and 68th minutes putting the hosts into a commanding 2-0 lead. Both were the result of mistakes in the BVB defence. With a sell-out crowd of 30,660 spectators watching at the WWK Arena, the Black & Yellows created chances to get back into the game but both Jakob Bruun Larsen (42) and Paco Alcácer (75) were denied by Gregor Kobel in the FCA goal. The Spaniard did finally beat the Swiss shot-stopper in the 81st minute to set up a frantic finish, only for Kobel to make another save to deny Mario Götze on 87 minutes as the hosts held on.

The scenario:  
BVB had only lost one of their previous 15 Bundesliga meetings against FCA. That equates to a 7 percent loss ratio – their lowest percentage against any current top-flight team. FC Augsburg had only conceded more goals against Bayern Munich (38) than they had against Borussia Dortmund (37).

Personnel matters:  
Reus was available after three and a half weeks out, leaving Piszczek (heel), Pulisic (fitness following torn fibres) and Schmelzer, who took a knock to his foot in training on Thursday, as the only injury absentees. The captain returned to the starting XI along with Delaney and Bruun Larsen, who was handed his first start since the winter break. Alcácer, Guerreiro and Weigl dropped to the bench.

Tactics:  
Augsburg adopted the same defensive approach deployed by Nuremberg, whose 4-5-1 formation earned them a goalless draw with BVB 11 days ago. Upon regaining possession, the Bavarians countered quickly and courageously with Gregoritsch and Hahn pushing forward to support the lone frontman Ji. While counter-pressing, three Augsburg players were positioned high up the pitch. But whenever this first line of pressing was overcome, every FCA player aside from Ji dropped back. BVB, meanwhile, lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 system in which Diallo continued on the left of defence.

The match & analysis:
The league leaders dominated the opening stages and carved open some early chances with their quick link-up play. Though Bruun Larsen miscontrolled the ball following a sweeping counter-attack in the first minute, he atoned in the eighth minute by feeding Reus, whose shot from around seven metres was kept out by shot-stopper Kobel. Another opportunity was brilliantly created on the quarter-hour mark when Hakimi broke through down the right and cut the ball back to Sancho, whose effort from 16 metres was deflected behind for a corner by an Augsburg defender.

But FCA, who had only taken two out of a possible 21 points from their previous seven Bundesliga home games against BVB, were gifted a great chance in the 24th minute after an error in the Dortmund defence. Hahn found himself in space on the right flank before picking out Ji in the middle and, although the former Dortmund man's first effort was blocked by the sliding Delaney, he managed to curl the follow-up into the top-left corner and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

BVB, who had only previously been behind for a combined total of 33 minutes in the Fugger city, had an outstanding opportunity to restore parity in the 42nd minute of the match when Bruun Larsen, running at full pelt, brilliantly plucked Götze's lofted pass from midfield out of the sky, although his volley was parried by Kobel in the Augsburg goal.

As the rain began to pour down in the opening 20 minutes of the second period, BVB struggled to find their rhythm and were repeatedly thwarted either by the soggy surface or the dogged defending of their opposition.

Favre opted to make a tactical and personnel tweak on the hour-mark, switching to a 4-1-4-1 formation and introducing Guerreiro and Alcácer in place of Delaney and Reus. On 68 minutes, however, Augsburg benefited from another defensive mistake and Ji doubled the advantage with an excellent chip.

Dortmund refused to admit defeat, however, and showed tremendous courage as they vehemently searched for a route back into the game. They seemed to have found one on 75 minutes, only for Kobel to keep out Alcácer's volley from Götze's pass and then deny Sancho five minutes later. The Augsburg gloveman was eventually beaten on 81 minutes, though, when Sancho and Götze combined to set up Alcácer, who slotted home from 11 metres. The visitors pressed for a leveller but Kobel kept out Götze's drive from 16 metres in the 87th minute as the hosts held on for a win.

All the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
There will be midweek UEFA Champions League action for Borussia Dortmund, who host Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday (kick-off 21:00 CET). That will be followed by a Bundesliga home game against VfB Stuttgart next Saturday (kick-off 15:30 CET).

Teams & goals