Alcácer brace seals 2-0 win and takes BVB back to the top!

Boris Rupert reporting

The Black & Yellows failed to apply the necessary pressure and pick out the gaps in a well-marshalled Wolfsburg defence in front of a sell-out crowd of 81,365 at Signal Iduna Park. The only two good chances for the home side fell to Alcácer and Sancho, but a draw would have been a fair result too given that the Wolves had two clear-cut opportunities themselves. However, the deadlock was finally broken through Alcácer, who hit two stoppage time goals − the first a free-kick from 17 metres and the second following a counter-attack − to return his team to the top of the table.

The scenario:  
Since being defeated in the 2015 DFB Cup final, Borussia Dortmund had not lost any of their subsequent seven meetings with VfL Wolfsburg (W6 D1). However, the visitors had been on strong form this season and had only lost one of their previous seven matches in the current Bundesliga campaign, leaving them in sixth place prior to kick-off.

Personnel matters: 
BVB were without father-to-be Reus, as well as injury absentees Pulisic (torn fibres), Piszczek (heel) and Philipp (torn lateral collateral ligament in knee), but Witsel, Götze and Alcácer were all available again for the 14th home game of the season. There were four changes to the starting XI that won 3-2 in Berlin last time out, with Delaney, Götze, Guerreiro and Alcácer starting in place of Pulisic, Reus, Weigl and Bruun Larsen (both bench).

Tactics:  
BVB lined up in the same 4-2-3-1 formation they had deployed in Berlin, this time with Götze in the hole behind Alcácer. Wingers Guerreiro and Sancho frequently switched sides, with the Englishman frequently surfacing on the left and often subjected to pressure by (at least) two Wolfsburg players each time he got the ball. The visitors adopted a tough-tackling approach and sat very deep when without the ball despite their attack-minded 4-3-3 formation. Guilavogui occupied the role of sweeper between two compact banks of four that stayed in close proximity.

The match & analysis:
The tough-tackling visitors, who were handed two early yellow cards by the referee, made it difficult for BVB to build the play, forcing some uncharacteristic losses of possession and largely thwarting any goalscoring opportunities in the opening half – aside from one clear-cut chance that fell to Alcácer in the 19th minute. The move started when Guerreiro quickly switched the play and Götze delivered an inch-perfect cross to the onrushing Spaniard, whose shot from eight metres out flew narrowly over the target. At the other end, Bürki made a fingertip save to turn Weghorst's shot behind for a corner in the 28th minute. But neither side really showed the tempo required to force a breakthrough.

Diallo was forced off with an injury just a few minutes after the restart. He was replaced by Hakimi and the pacey Moroccan injected more tempo into the match but it still wasn't enough to pull the opposition out of position. The Black & Yellows were holding onto the ball for too long rather than producing their usual attacking link-up play, and it was not until the 62nd minute that they next seriously threatened. Delaney played a pass into the path of Sancho and the Englishman shot from around 15 metres, but custodian Casteels was on hand to turn it behind for a corner.

Substitute Hakimi sustained an injury to his right foot with around 20 minutes to go and exited the field of play. Bruun Larsen came on in his stead, with Guerreiro dropping back into defence. With 12 minutes to go, the Wolves came close to opening the scoring but Zagadou made a last-ditch clearance with Weghorst lurking.

Delaney clears the way for Alcácer

In the 90th minute, BVB won a free-kick 17 metres from goal. Alcácer fired the ball at team-mate Delaney in the Wolfsburg defensive wall but the Dane moved out of the way and the ball flew in. The advantage was doubled four minutes later, deep into stoppage time, when Sancho countered down the right flank and the Spaniard swept home. Stadium announcer Norbert Dickel's declaration that Freiburg had drawn 1-1 with Bayern was the icing on the cake.

All the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
Next up in the Bundesliga is a top-of-the-table clash between Dortmund and Bayern at the Allianz Arena next Saturday. That match kicks off at 18:30 CET.

Teams & goals