Findings on Borussia Dortmund's victory in Leverkusen: Nothing new from the construction site

Borussia Dortmund achieved an important victory in the wild goal spectacle against Bayer Leverkusen. The debut of loan player Marin Pongracic made hope for more. A well-known BVB problem remains.

Bayer Leverkusen – BVB: Now one of the games of the season

Fourth game, next spectacle: When Borussia Dortmund plays in this Bundesliga season, it won’t be boring. 22 goals have been scored so far with BVB participation, an average of 5.5 in each game.

The duel against Leverkusen was seamless and has its own spectacular history anyway. In the past ten games between the two teams, there have been 50 goals. The encounter on Saturday afternoon mimicked the clash in February 2020, which took several turns and was won by Bayer 4-3.

This time it went back and forth with the same end result, there was a breathless up and down with intense duels, many switching situations and scoring opportunities on both sides. Actually, the encounter did not deserve a winner.

Notes: Debutante Pongracic squeaky clean – Witsel with big problems

1/29

Borussia Dortmund won a wild exchange of blows 4: 3 against Bayer Leverkusen on the 4th Bundesliga matchday. While BVB Erling Haaland once again became the match winner, a youngster convinced at B04. The notes and individual reviews.

2/29

LEVERKUSEN – LUKAS HRADECKY: Conceded four goals, but was powerless for each one. Otherwise with few opportunities to excel. Grade: 3.5.

3/29

JEREMIE FRIMPONG: In the beginning, often appeared offensively in conjunction with the strong Diaby and presented the left BVB defensive side with some problems. Dived further and further with increasing playing time, but didn’t owe anything. Grade: 3.5.

4/29

ODILON KOSSOUNOU: Was far too far away when Haaland conceded the first goal and could no longer significantly disturb the Norwegian. He also owed the penalty to make it 3: 4 with an unnecessary foul on Reus. Grade: 5.

5/29

JONATHAN TAH: Despite the four goals you conceded, no real mistake. Got the most passports of all Leverkusen men (89.5 percent) and was usually the winner in a duel. Grade: 3.5.

6/29

MITCHEL BAKKER: Harmonized offensive well with Paulinho, whom he played a few balls in the barrel. Less secure defensively. Did not disturb Meunier energetically enough on his cross on Haaland, often only second winner against Bellingham. Grade: 4.5.

7/29

KEREM DEMIRBAY: Played an outstanding ball on the started Wirtz before his goal. Was one of the best Leverkusen players in the first half, but not quite as strong after the break. Note 3.

8/29

ROBERT ANDRICH: A solid debut in the Leverkusen dress. He presented himself well in a duel and with some good ideas in the build-up game. Before the 2: 1 with good duel behavior against Brandt. Grade: 3.5.

9/29

MOUSSA DIABY: He made it possible for Guerreiro to pass before the 1-0. A lot on the right wing. Also scored the 3-2 after a low shot placed. Grade: 2.5.

10/29

FLORIAN WIRTZ: Finished the first really dangerous Bayer attack calmly for an early lead. At 2: 1 then with a good eye when he thought about the better positioned Schick. A good performance by the youngster. Grade: 2.

11/29

PAULINHO: Always presented the BVB defense with major problems. Excellent pressing before the 1-0 when he snatched the ball from Witsel’s foot and then unselfishly dropped it on Wirtz. After 62 minutes he was substituted for Adli. Grade: 2.5.

12/29

PATRIK SCHICK: In the beginning it was often hanging in the air and only got a few usable balls. When he hits, ice-cold in the classic center-forward manner. But overall with a little too little penetration. Note 3.

13/29

AMINE ADLI: The new signing from Toulouse was substituted on for the last half an hour, but he didn’t set any highlights. Grade: 4.

14/29

LUCAS ALARIO: Was substituted on for Schick in the 78th minute. No rating.

15/29

KARIM BELLARABI: Was substituted on for Demirbay in the 79th minute. No rating.

16/29

DORTMUND – GREGOR KOBEL: No chance at all three goals conceded. In the second round there were some good saves, but he was never really challenged. Grade: 3.5.

17/29

THOMAS MEUNIER: In the beginning I had big problems getting the lively Paulinho under control, but the longer they played it got better. Nice cross on Haaland at 1: 1, also involved in the creation of the 2: 2. Grade: 2.5.

18/29

MARIN PONGRACIC: Counted on a cross pass from Wirtz at 0: 1 and did not attack early enough, at 1: 2 then let down by his fellow men. Otherwise he did his job very well and won 100 percent of his duels. Note 3.

19/29

MANUEL AKANJI: Not quite as snappy as next man Pongracic in a duel, but with some good balls in the top. Also had the most ball contacts of all Dortmund players (90). Grade: 3.5.

20/29

RAPHAEL GUERREIRO: Made the decisive bad pass before the 0: 1. Apart from that with many weaknesses in duels and little penetration in his offensive actions. Worth seeing, however, is his free-kick goal to make it 3: 3. Grade: 3.5.

21/29

AXEL WITSEL: He was also involved in the creation of the first goal when he walked too slowly to the ball. In addition, I kept having major problems with Wirtz and Paulinho. I was the first to go down from Dortmund. Grade: 4.5.

22/29

JUDE BELLINGHAM: Visibly tried and made many meters on the lawn, but often seemed unhappy in his actions. Too hesitant in a duel at Diaby’s goal. Bitter: His goal to make it 2-1 was subsequently revoked. Grade: 3.5.

23/29

MAHMOUD DAHOUD: Invisible appearance of the midfielder. Couldn’t put his stamp on the game either offensively or defensively. Grade: 4.

24/29

JULIAN BRANDT: A show with light and shadow. At half time one with a huge missed chance and a lot of ball losses like before the 1: 2. It is worth seeing his ball with him before the 2: 2 as well as the subsequent conclusion. Grade: 4.

25/29

ERLING HAALAND: Dortmund life insurance was also directly involved in three of the four BVB goals against Leverkusen. He scored the 1: 1 with his head himself, at 2: 2 he provided the template for Brandt. Confident with the 911. Grade: 1.5.

26/29

MARCO REUS: When things got dangerous at BVB, it was mostly through him. Was found almost everywhere offensively and often relied on the wings. In the second 45 minutes then less active, but took out the penalty. Grade: 2.5.

27/29

DONNYELL MALEN: Came for the weak Witsel. Should the Dortmund offensive game revive again, but remained pale. Grade: 4.

28/29

MATS HUMMELS: Was substituted on for Pongracic in the 84th minute and cleared the penalty area shortly afterwards. No rating.

29/29

MARIUS WOLF: Was substituted on for Bellingham in the 89th minute. No rating.

It was the much-quoted advertisement for the Bundesliga and certainly the best game of the young season so far. There will probably not be many more eventful duels this season. However, it is not only in the Bundesliga that there are not enough games in this category now, playful poverty and monotony often rule.

The fact that Dortmund put away three deficits in Leverkusen and still won in the end should definitely give the Westphalians an enormous boost for the start of the English weeks. The often asked question about the mentality has been answered for the moment, because the late 3-2 winner against Hoffenheim on the previous matchday was an expression of the greed that is in the BVB team and exemplified by players such as Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Gregor Kobel is embodied.

BVB: Borussia Dortmund’s game plan

date	Competition	opponent	Venue
15.09.2021	Champions League	Besiktas	A.
09/19/2021	Bundesliga	Union Berlin	H
09/25/2021	Bundesliga	Borussia Monchengladbach	A.
09/28/2021	Champions League	Sporting Lisbon	H