3-1: Delaney fires Borussia to victory

Boris Rupert reports
BVB put the pressure on their opponents from the outset, creating six good chances in the first half, but went behind to a Hahn goal after 10 minutes and missed a penalty (Haaland, 21), before Delaney equalised on 26 minutes. After just over an hour, Dortmund celebrated going into the lead for the first time through Sancho (63). In the 75th minute, Haaland forced an own goal from Uduokhai to seal the victory.

The scenario:   
After three games without a win (one draw, two defeats), Borussia Dortmund wanted to return to winning ways against FC Augsburg. FCA had ended a series of three defeats last weekend with a 2-1 win against Union Berlin.

Personnel matters: 
In addition Witsel, Hazard, Meunier, Zagadou and Schmelzer, the hosts had to make do without Bürki, who had injured his shoulder during training. He was replaced in goal by Hitz, the ex-Augsburg stopper (157 appearances) making his 19th appearance in a competitive game for BVB (before today: 15 wins, one draw, two defeats). There were only two other changes from the game in Gladbach a week ago: Delaney (after serving a suspension) and Reyna joined the starting 11 in place of Can and Bellingham...

Tactics:  
... BVB set up in a 4-3-3 system and were thus a little more attack-minded. As in Terzic's first game in Bremen (2-1), two attacking central midfielders (today Brandt and Reus) played behind three forwards, with Delaney operating alone as a defensive midfielder. Augsburg went into the game in a 3-4-2-1 formation that turned into a 5-4-1 when they didn't have the ball. There was very little space between the defence and midfield.

The match & analysis:
 The first half was played almost entirely in the Augsburg half. Sancho, who played largely on the left wing today, had a shot from 14 metres out after seven minutes, but missed the target. The chances came thick and fast: Brandt, set up by Reus, ran at Gikiewicz from the outside right, but the Augsburg keeper managed to tip the ball out for a corner. Then Haaland narrowly missed the target after a pass from Guerreiro.

The first goal was coming. But it was the other side who scored it! Iago crossed from the left, the ball bounced off Niederlechner to Hahn around the penalty spot, who was given a bit too much space and time and in turn gave the visitors the lead after 10 minutes.

It came as something of a surprise to Dortmund, who had previously had 4 shots on goal to their opponents' 0, 86% duels won and 68% possession. However, the goal did not change the course of the game: Borussia did not lose their composure after going behind, but rather continued to play the ball forward and put pressure on their opponents. They were soon rewarded with their chance to restore parity: Iago had stopped Reyna's shot with his hand. Although referee Ittrich did not initially see it, following an intervention from VAR in Cologne, the referee looked at the incident on the monitor and gave the penalty. Haaland stepped up – and hit the crossbar after 21 minutes.

Two minutes later, the Norwegian met Guerreiro's cross with a header, but Gikiewicz dived and saved the ball that looked destined for the top corner. In the 26th minute, BVB finally got their well-earned equaliser, when Delaney headed in after a free-kick cross by Reus. For the fourth game in a row, the Black and Yellows had equalised, but could not find a second goal in the first half, despite continuing to be the better of the two sides (10-2 shots on goal).

After the restart, BVB continued to play courageously, pressed high, gave Augsburg little space and created further opportunities, but Reyna and Reus could not find the net after Sancho's barnstorming run through the penalty area after 54 minutes.

After his teammates had failed to apply the finishing touch shortly beforehand, Sancho didn't make the same mistake after just over an hour, when he was played in on the left by Guerreiro and finished to make it 2-1. It was already his 33rd goal in 95 Bundesliga matches – and for Guerreiro it was his seventh assist of the season.

Shortly afterwards, Augsburg replaced all three of their forwards (Niederlechner, Hahn, Richter), but continued to be predominantly occupied with defending. BVB wanted to secure the win, but without risking too much in doing so. Terzic brought on Bellingham (for Brandt) with a quarter of an hour to go, who started the move that made it 3-1 with his first touch of the game. Sancho switched it to Haaland, who could not be stopped on the left wing, and Uduokhai deflected his shot into his own goal to make it 3-1 on 75 minutes.

Outlook:   

The first midweek fixture of year is up next: On Tuesday, BVB will play host to second division side SC Paderborn in the last 16 in the cup (kick-off 20:45 CET, live on ARD). On Saturday, they will be back in action in the Bundesliga against SC Freiburg (kick-off 15:30 CET, live on Sky).

Team & goals