Despite a manageable performance for a long time, Borussia Dortmund won 3: 2 (1: 1) against TSG Hoffenheim and is therefore putting pressure on FC Bayern. The gap to the record champions, who have to play at Hertha on Sunday, is three points for the time being.
“It was a victory for effectiveness,” said captain Marco Reus after the game sky and hit the nail on the head. BVB only recorded four shots – two of them on target – over the entire game. TSG, who lost again after eight home games in a row without bankruptcy, were the much more dangerous team for long stretches of the game (16 shots).
“We got on really well, but then lost the thread. Hoffenheim occupied every interface and we didn’t put enough pressure on it,” said Reus.
However, three good attacks were enough for BVB to score three goals. Erling Haaland and Marco Reus scored the goals. There was also an own goal from national player David Raum. All goals are from the outstanding Donyell Malen.
However, the joy of the victory is somewhat clouded by the unplanned replacement of Haaland. After a lunge without external influence, he allegedly injured himself in the adductor area. After just 15 minutes, the Norwegian had to be treated on his right knee.
Before kick-off, BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke announced that the disagreements with Haaland regarding the decision about his future had been resolved.
TSG Hoffenheim vs BVB: The analysis
Compared to the bitter cup loss against St. Pauli, coach Marco Rose changed three positions. Wolf replaced the injured Meunier, Dahoud replaced the recently weak Witsel and Malen came on for Hazard. Hübner, who was battered by injuries, celebrated his comeback in the starting XI after 574 days with the hosts who had been unbeaten in eight Bundesliga games.
The Kraichgauer attacked the ball-carrying defender early on in a tightly staggered 4-4-2 to nip Dortmund’s offensive game in the bud. However, this plan didn’t work out for long. After a fantastic combination via Guerreiro and Bellingham, Malen put Haaland in the lead in an exemplary manner (6th).
Despite the leadership behind them, BVB didn’t manage to take control and acted far too passively. That enabled TSG to digest the deficit quickly. The Hoeneß team played purposefully forward and were unlucky twice.
First a mixture of Kobel and the post (11th), a little later the crossbar (23rd) prevented the equalizer. This should have fallen in the 40th minute at the latest, when Akanji made an outstanding save from Kramaric at the last moment. Shortly before the half-time whistle, the Croatian got his chance and scored the well-deserved 1-1 (45′ + 1′).
After the restart, TSG picked up where they left off before the break. But BVB also turned his second good attack into something countable because Reus stayed calm after a nice pass from Malen against Baumann (58th).
It was Malen who subsequently forced Raum’s own goal to make it 3-1 with a sharp cross (67′). BVB still had to tremble because Rutter kept his nerve against Kobel (77th). Rudy missed the 3:3 shortly before the end. Overall a happy win for Borussia.
Borussia Dortmund has scored in their last 9 games in the Bundesliga, BVB’s longest scoring streak in the competition since October 3, 2020 to September 19, 2021 (17 games at the time).
Borussia Dortmund fired 4 shots in that game, BVB’s lowest tally in a Bundesliga game this season.
Borussia Dortmund scored 8 goals in the quarter of an hour right after the break in the Bundesliga this season – more than any other team.
Borussia Dortmund scored 6 goals in the first quarter of an hour in the Bundesliga this season – only Bayer 04 Leverkusen have more (9).
The star of the game: Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund
Three assists and a symbol of Dortmund’s attacking game! His three good actions resulted in three goals. After the break also with some good individual actions. One of his best performances, if not his best, since arriving in Dortmund.
The flop of the match: Benjamin Huebner (TSG Hoffenheim)
Ungrateful return for the centre-back. Too far away from the action when Haaland made it 1-0 and unhappy with Malen’s pass to Reus. On top of that, he missed the equalizer because he headed the ball to the crossbar. He was substituted after 62 minutes.
The referee: Deniz Aytekin
Experienced a mostly quiet afternoon in an extremely fair game. Only had to intervene for the first time after the change of sides and warned Hummels with full justification (49th). Also correct not to point to the point in the duel between Malen and Richards.
