Thanks to a 3-2 win at TSG Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund has reduced the gap to FC Bayern to three points for the time being. However, the performance in Sinsheim once again left some question marks. There was a glimmer of hope for that. Three theses on the BVB victory.
BVB not worthy of a top team
Two shots on goal, three goals – these are the telling statistics of BVB. The at first glance confusing distribution of numbers can be explained by the simple fact that Dortmund’s third goal was scored by Hoffenheim’s David Raum and was therefore not counted as an official shot on goal. The statistics describe the course of the game quite aptly.
Because BVB stopped playing football for long stretches after Erling Haaland (6th) took the lead early on. “We got in very well. We had a good ten, 15 minutes,” said coach Marco Rose after the final whistle. Only TSG had played until they took the lead again, Dortmund became completely passive for inexplicable reasons.
“We had big problems until the break. (…) In the end we fought home the win, which was flattering for us,” stated Rose, describing Kramaric’s equalizer shortly before half-time as “deserved”. Even after the goals to make it 2-1 and 3-1, which were anything but in the air, Borussia couldn’t get a grip on the hosts. In the end it was “a victory of effectiveness”, as captain Marco Reus rightly stated. The xGoals value was only 1.34 in the end.
In addition to the two shots on goal, BVB only recorded two other deals – fewer than ever before in this Bundesliga season. Thanks to the largely disciplined basic order of the home side, very little went forward, there are days like that. But even with the lucky two-goal cushion in the back, BVB didn’t manage to take control, let alone calm down the game. After Rutten’s connection, Dortmund could only thank Rudy’s lack of goal-scoring instinct that the scoreboard was not 3:3 in the end.
If, after the rollercoaster ride of the past few weeks, there seems to be a lack of consistency even within a game, Rose urgently needs to come up with something with a view to the ambitious goals. Such performances are not worthy of a top team. Especially not with the claim to make Bayern the championship in dispute. Even if the gap is three points at least until Sunday, when Bayern make a guest appearance at Hertha (from 5.30 p.m. in LIVETICKER).
After the embarrassing end of the cup at FC St. Pauli, the new, old callousness in front of goal can at least be built on. At least if you want to believe the words of Manuel Akanji: “We have to manage to take advantage of the opportunities up front and play as a team even on days that aren’t so good. We discussed that with each other. It won’t happen overnight, But today was a good step.”
Bundesliga: Top of the table before the Sunday games
