Haaland scores a hat-trick, but Bochum win 4-3

Boris Rupert reports

In front of 81,365 fans in the sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, VfL were two goals to the good after just seven minutes thanks to strikes from Polter and Holtmann. Haaland only needed until the 30th minute to level the match with a pair of penalties. VfL keeper Riemann prevented further BVB goals with strong saves before Haaland secured his hat-trick in the 62nd minute to give BVB their first lead in the B1 derby. But on 81 minutes Locadia found the net before Pantovic scored the third goal from the spot in the game four minutes later, firing the away side to a 4-3 win.

The scenario:  
After winning the previous three meetings, BVB had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture this season. The only home defeat in the past 32 years against VfL came on 13 September back in 1998. Bochum had won only one of their last six league games and had failed to find the net in their last three. BVB had won 12 of their 15 home games so far this season.

Personnel matters:  
Can (suspended for picking up five yellow cards), Dahoud, Hummels, Kobel, Malen, Meunier, Morey, Reyna, Schmelzer and Tigges (all injured or building up their fitness as they return from injury) were all missing. The latest 17-year-old star celebrated his starting eleven debut: Jamie Bynioe-Gittens was one of two changes in the starting eleven from the match in Munich. The Englishman and Axel Witsel came in for Can and Reinier.

Tactics:  
When in possession, Bochum lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with a defensive midfielder and dropped very deep when the Black and Yellows had the ball. The away side tried long balls to the wingers Asano and Holtmann time and again, while BVB looked for slower build-up play with their 4-2-3-1 formation. As neither side necessarily emphasises tactical discipline when it comes to defending, there were nine high-quality opportunities in front of goal between the two both sides in the first half alone (six for BVB).

The match & analysis:
Flying start? After less than two minutes of play, Bynoe-Gittens forced Riemann to make a save. The goal would not have counted, however, as Haaland had previously been offside from Reus' long ball. Right after that, Riemann played a ball out to the right wing, where Asano beat Guerreiro and crossed into the box. As Akanji had slipped, Polter was left completely open and could nod the ball home uncontested from seven yards out after just 3 minutes. And Bochum weren't finished there. Five minutes later, Asano laid the ball off to Pantovic from the inside left of the penalty area, Pantovic played in Holtmann, who lifted the ball into the far corner from 20 yards out on the inside left to make it 2-0 after 8 minutes.

At the other end, Gamboa stopped Wolf's cross with an outstretched arm. No decision was made, so "VAR" intervened, awarding BVB a penalty. Haaland converted the penalty, slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner on 18 minutes. Three minutes later, Brandt had a great chance to make it 2-2 after Bellingham's pass, but Riemann made the save. After great link-up play between Akanji and Haaland, Reus only had the VfL keeper to beat, but Riemann stretched up his right arm and saved his side again after 27 minutes.

Two minutes later, the video assistant referee Welz was involved once again, having noticed another handball in the Bochum penalty area – this time Rexhbecaj was the guilty party. Again Haaland took the penalty and again he fired a low shot with his left foot, but this time into the left corner, making it 2-2 after 29 minutes! The impressive Riemann was all that prevented Dortmund from going into the dressing rooms at half-time with the lead, denying Wolf on 35 minutes and Zagadou three minutes later.

The game followed a similar pattern the second half, with both sides allowing each other plenty of space. And once again it was Riemann who prevented BVB from taking the lead: Bellingham had knocked down Wolf's cross to Haaland, but this time the Norwegian couldn't beat the VfL keeper with his shot from 12 yards. That was BVB's 13th shot of the game with just 58 minutes on the referee's watch. But even Riemann was no match for shot number 14 – Bynoe-Gittens played a lovely ball to find the run of Reus, who cut the ball back into the box. Haaland's shot hit the striker himself, and the deflection gave Riemann no chance. After an hour, BVB had turned the game around and were leading 3-2.

Borussia dominated, but Bochum looked dangerous going forward, especially Antwi-Adjei. The VfL midfielder had a glorious chance to equalise with twenty minutes to play, but fluffed his lines. At the other end, Reus missed the chance to put the game to bed on 80 minutes. Instead, Pantovic was given too much space on the right, Locadia won the duel against Akanji on the penalty spot and fired home for 3-3 after 81 minutes. Shortly afterwards came the third penalty for handball – this time it was Witsel who handled inside the box. Pantovic fired Bochum back into the lead with five minutes to go and they held on for all three points.

Outlook:
Next Saturday, BVB will play travel to play Greuther Fürth. Kick-off in that one is at 15:30 CET. The season ends in 14 days with the home game against Hertha BSC.

Team & goals