Borussia Dortmund has to accept a major setback at the end of the Bundesliga season. BVB lost 3-2 (1-0) at Hertha BSC on matchday 17 and now hibernates nine points behind leaders FC Bayern.
Julian Brandt gave BVB the lead in the first half (31st), it was Brandt’s fifth goal participation in the last five Bundesliga games. After the break, Hertha turned the game around within six minutes, first Ishak Belfodil (51st), then Marco Richter (57th), who tied the brace in 69th. Substitute Steffen Tigges’ goal came too late for BVB (82nd).
It was the fifth defeat of the season for Borussia, but BVB can no longer take second place behind Bayern. After their sixth victory, the Berliners now climb to eleventh place with 21 points.
Rose: “We lack unconditionality”
BVB coach Marco Rose was clearly served after the game. “We’re giving the goals for free. And we haven’t played unconditional football for too long,” said Rose Sky. “The moment the goal hits, we do what we imagine for 90 minutes: attacking, defending, putting the opponent under pressure. Before that, it’s too much to manage. We have goals and demands. But we have to work on the things that make ourselves better. We lack unconditionality. Everyone has to be able to see that we want to win. “
His Berlin counterpart Tayfun Korkut, on the other hand, was full of praise for his team. “That was a good reaction from the team. We played very smart tactically and struck at the right moment. The face of today and the first two games will be the face of the future,” said Korkut.
“We gave up the game. That was nothing in the first 20 minutes of the second half, only after that we were back. We got the goals too easily. With three goals conceded away it is very, very difficult,” said BVB- Goalkeeper Marwin Hitz Sky.
“We can’t be satisfied away from home,” added Hitz, “you can feel that we’re becoming dissatisfied. Our aim is to get a clear victory away from home.”
Hertha BSC – BVB: The analysis
Hertha with six, BVB with five changes compared to the last game. While Hertha coach Korkut made the changes as a reaction to the disastrous 4-0 in Mainz, BVB coach Rose had to rebuild. BVB broke away the central block in the defense, after Akanji also keeper Kobel and Hummels reported sick.
Both teams did not dwell long with banter, but marched cheerfully forward. A wild game developed from the start without long breaks or crowds in midfield. Instead, both sides were quick and straight forward, scoring chances on both sides were the logical consequence.
Dortmund had a hard time coping with the changing pressing of Hertha in their close 4-2-2-2. Especially when the hosts moved up into the field, BVB quickly became nervous and suffered early and dangerous ball losses. However, the Berliners were surprisingly less stable in the deeper pressing, which brought BVB some breakthroughs on the right side.
After the withdrawn goal for Berlin, the game calmed down a bit, which primarily benefited Borussia. Dortmund now had a little more control, but the opening goal came as a surprise. Even after the break, the Dortmund problems remained in the deep build-up and the fact that Haaland and Malen remained cut off from the rest of the team.
Hertha, on the other hand, looked even safer in their combinations and rewarded themselves with a double pack. At this point in time a well-deserved lead for the hosts, who simply seemed more grippy than the lethargic BVB, who allowed themselves one nasty individual blunder after the other.
Dortmund tried to counteract this with quick changes, but never really found their way into the game. All the more surprising the connection hit by Tigges in the final phase.
Access has also had difficult months in Berlin so far, but Richter almost single-handedly killed BVB: First the cracker to make it 2-1, then the quick-witted knockout for the preliminary decision. In general, Richter gave the most shots of all players on the pitch until his substitution after 72 minutes (three) and tied his first double for Hertha.
The flop of the game: Axel Witsel (BVB)
Somewhat surprisingly, coach Rose put the Belgian in central defense and instead left Zagdou outside. But Witsel could not justify the trust placed in him. Unlike the set Hummels or Akanji, the veteran could not convince in the construction, limited himself to safety passes. When equalizing, Witsel was simply overrun by Belfodil, when he conceded the second goal, he headed the ball straight into the center. An appearance that matched Witsel’s series.
The referee: Marco Fritz
Difficult because very competitive game for the referee. That was mostly correct in the duel evaluation, and the withdrawal of the supposed Berlin leadership was also covered by the rules – albeit a tough decision from Hertha’s point of view.
