BVB cruise to win over FCN

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting

A capacity crowd of 80,645 at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK saw a first half dominated by Borussia Dortmund who failed to make the most of their opportunities. The hosts even had to thank Weidenfeller to keep the game level as the BVB keeper pulled off a great save to tip Nuremberg’s only effort in the first half onto the post. Hummels put the hosts in front on 51 minutes before Lewandowski (64 mins) and Mkhitaryan (83) secured the win.

The Scenario:

This fixture was a top clash when looking at the table for the second half of the season, with the fourth of 2014 taking on the third, Nuremberg, who went into this game having taken 12 out of a possible 15 points this year. BVB, on the other hand, had been unbeaten against Nuremberg under Jürgen Klopp, winning seven (19-3 goals) and drawing two (both away), and had lost only one of their previous 27 meetings with Nuremberg, a 2-0 defeat away from home on 25 November 2007.

Personnel Matters:

BVB were without the injured Bender, Gündogan, Blaszczykowski and Subotic as well as the suspended Reus, who was replaced by Aubameyang in the starting line-up, while Hummels returned from injury to play instead of Friedrich in central defence. Nuremberg had to do without the services of the suspended Nilsson as well as Ginczek, Chandler, Hasebe and Marcos Antonio, who were all injured.

Tactics:

BVB started in a 4-1-4-1formation, while Nuremberg lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with an emphasis on defensive play and Pekhart deployed as the lone striker.

The Game & Analysis:

BVB began the game in a positive mood, kept the Nuremberg defence under pressure from the off and could have taken an early lead in the sixth minute when Aubameyang just missed a low cross from the by-line by Schmelzer before Piszczek came close after picking up the second ball.

Nuremberg may have enjoyed a bit more possession in the opening stages, but they struggled to put any meaningful attacks together against a lively looing BVB side that pressed high up the field and managed to create a number of chances from their early domination. Sahin (18 mins) and Mkhitaryan (19/25) went close before Schmelzer saw his fierce 22-yard effort saved well by Nuremberg’s keeper Schäfer (22 mins), who also did well to keep out a Hummels header from short range. BVB’s last chance of the first half fell to Aubameyang who missed just wide following a counter attacking move on 45 minutes.

Their best chance, however, had already come on 17 minutes when an under pressure Angha played the ball back to his goalkeeper to take it, leaving referee Dingert no choice but to award an indirect free-kick from the six-yard line. Lewandowski stepped up but, with virtually all Club players on the goalline, his powerful shot got stuck in the wall.

After 29 minutes, BVB had seven shots on goal, while Nuremberg had yet to produce a single effort on target, but a communication error between Sokratis and Hummels Pekhart almost turned the game on its head as Pekhart latched on to the ball and ran clear, but Weidenfeller quickly rushed out of his goal to narrow the angle and in a fantastic save managed to get his fingertips on the shot to deflect it onto the post. It was the 19^th time this season the Club have hit the woodwork.

Borussia were lucky here, but in the second half they quickly put the game out of reach for the visitors. A Sahin free-kick from the left found Lewandowski in the centre and the BVB striker rose highest to steer a powerful header towards goal.  Schäfer somehow got a hand onto it, but Hummels was hand to tap the loose ball home to put Borussia 1-0 in front (51 mins).

Mkhitaryan could have made 2-0 only four minutes later after Grosskreutz chipped a soft cross from the left to Aubameyang who flicked the ball perfectly into the path of the Armenian, but Schäfer did well again to push his header over the crossbar.

The Nuremberg keeper was eventually beaten again on 64 minutes when Mkhitaryan picked out the unmarked Lewandowski at the edge of the penalty box and the Polish striker made no mistake and coolly fired into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box to make it 2-0, leaving Schäfer no chance.

Borussia went on to dominate the rest of the game and pushed for a third. After good work from Lewandowki, Mkhitaryan saw his effort from 12 yards saved well by Schäfer on 73 minutes. He did better 10 minutes later when second-half substitute Hofmann slid the ball into his path inside the area and the Dortmund midfielder stroke home from short range (82 mins).

Teams & Goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 23
BORUSSIA DORTMUND - NUREMBERG 3-0 (0-0)

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer – Sahin, Kehl – Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Großkreutz - Lewandowski
 Nuremberg: Schäfer – Angha, Petrak, Pinola, Plattenhardt – Frantz – Drmic, Feulner, Kiyotake, Hlousek – Pekhart
 Substitutions: 36. Friedrich for Sokratis, 71. Hofmann for Aubameyang, 85. Jojic for Mkhitaryan - 36. Pogatetz for Pinola, 61. Campana for Feulner, 78. Stark for Frantz
 Goals: 1-0 Hummels (51., Lewandowski), 2-0 Lewandowski (64., Mkhitaryan), 3-0 Mkhitaryan (83., Hofmann)
 Corners: 6-1 (HT 5-0), Chances: 10-3 (6-1)
 Referee: Dingert (Lebecksmühle), Yellow cards: - Feulner, Pogatetz
 Attendance: 80,645 (sold out), Weather: sunny, 8 degrees Celsius

Prospects:

Next up for Borussia Dortmund is an away trip to SC Freiburg on Sunday, 9 March 2014 (kick-off: 1530 CET).