Bundesliga

VfL Wolfsburg 6: 1: Five goals in 14 minutes! Borussia Dortmund with a resounding victory in Tom Rothe’s Bundesliga debut

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2022

Borussia Dortmund celebrated a shooting match in front of 79,200 spectators and almost certainly qualified for the Champions League. BVB won their home game on match day 30 of the Bundesliga against VfL Wolfsburg 6-1 (5-0).

BVB scored five goals within 14 minutes in the first half and took the lead through 17-year-old Tom Rothe (24th), who surprisingly made his Bundesliga debut. The other goals were scored by Axel Witsel (26′), Manuel Akanji (28′), Emre Can (35′) and twice by Erling Haaland (38′, 54′). Ridle Baku scored the goal of honor for VfL (82′).

Dortmund can now plan with the premier class in the coming season – with four games left and a lead of twelve points and 18 more goals scored over fifth-placed SC Freiburg, Borussia can only mathematically take the CL participation.

“We played very dominantly, were grippy, enthusiastic and scored nice goals. Tom Rothe’s goal also fits into the day. All in all, we gave the fans a nice Holy Saturday,” said BVB coach Marco Rose.

Debutant Rothe said at sky: “Indescribable, it couldn’t be any better. I first had to process the news that I was going to play. That came very spontaneously after the final training session. But I didn’t have much time to think and I didn’t have a clear head either.”

There was great disillusionment on the Wolfsburg side: “There is not much to say. In the first half it was a desolate performance in all respects that a football game requires. These troughs must end. It was a very bad performance from us,” said Coach Florian Kohfeldt.

“We came in really well and also had a huge chance, but everything that happened after the 0-1 was not Bundesliga worthy and an underground performance. You have to say that very clearly, we also have to be honest with ourselves. Like that we can’t perform, that’s not worthy of a VfL Wolfsburg,” said sports director Marcel Schäfer after the game sky.

BVB notes: Who knows what would have happened without Kobel?

1/17

Thanks to a furious first half, Borussia Dortmund dismantled VfL Wolfsburg 6:1. A teenager celebrates a dream debut, two other youngsters also make their debut. The grades of all BVB players.

2/17

GREGOR KOBEL: With a crazy reaction against Nmecha, the keeper saved his BVB from falling behind early (3rd). It was in the “untenable” category. Who knows how the one-sided game would have turned out otherwise. Top save against the wind (46th). Rating: 1.5.

3/17

EMRE CAN: The all-rounder this time with his better face. Very active, most ball actions (104), uncompromising and above all without stick errors, which he has repeatedly made recently. Nice long-range shot to make it 4-0. Grade: 2.

4/17

MANUEL AKANJI: After initial uncertainties, he had his shop under control. Akanji jumped into the buildup and ventured forward himself. Cleverly kept his foot on the Reus free-kick (28th) and was rewarded with the 3-0. Grade: 2.5.

5/17

DAN-AXEL ZAGADOU: The most inconspicuous BVB player in the chain of three. Did his job on the defensive unspectacularly, but quite confidently. With a total of 88 passes on the Dortmund side at the top. Note 3.

6/17

MARIUS WOLF: Brought an incredible amount of power down the right flank, again and again with beautiful and dangerous combinations with Reus. Shortcoming: Should have scored a goal. However, the precision was often lacking. Note 3.

7/17

AXEL WITSEL: Second goal of the season for the Belgian, who made Casteels look bad when he scored 2-0. Only had some problems in midfield at the beginning. A very strong pass to Reus (51st), who deserved an assist. Grade: 2.5.

8/17

JUDE BELLINGHAM: Tirelessly unwound his program, but not quite as conspicuous as usual at the BVB spectacle. However: 18 ball losses are in need of improvement. Grade: 3.5.

9/17

TOM ROTHE: Fantastic debut for the 17-year-old. With his header he put the BVB-Express on the right track. Had a chance earlier but his shot was blocked by Lacroix. Strong Guerreiro replacement. Grade: 2.5.

10/17

JULIAN BRANDT: The pivotal point in the Dortmund game. Fetched a number of balls in his own half and drove the offensive forward. Even the best duel at BVB before the break! Two assists, very strong performance. Rating: 1.5.

11/17

MARCO REUS: He was really up for the game, you could see that from the start. Very agile, with lots of ideas. Great pass even with Wolf’s big chance (21st). Then put BVB hits three and five on. Only his own goal didn’t want to fall. Rating: 1.5.

12/17

ERLING HAALAND: The top scorer’s strongest scene was the assist to make it 2-0. Strong as an ox, how he stole the ball from Schlager deep in the BVB half and drove it forward. Ended his nearly three-month goal drought in the league with a brace. Rating: 1.5.

13/17

MARIN PONGRACIC: In order not to put too much strain on defender Akanji, the Croatian was given a new chance of probation in the last 25 minutes. He couldn’t use it: his blunder initiated the guests’ consolation goal by Baku (81′). Grade: 4.5.

14/17

YOUSSOUFA MOUKOKO: Brandt on the pitch from the 65th minute. Showed some quick starts and two promising dribbles but couldn’t make anything out of it. Grade: 3.5.

15/17

REINIER: Replaced the exhausted Witsel in the final phase. But couldn’t put himself in the limelight in the remaining 13 minutes. No rating.

16/17

LION SEMIC: The next Bundesliga debut at BVB in the 88th minute. Mini assignment for the 18-year-old full-back, also to give his colleague Rothe the applause of the audience. No rating.

17/17

JAMIE BYNOE-GITTENS: Debutant number three: The 17-year-old Englishman was already in the BVB squad in Stuttgart, now two minutes against the wolves for the first time on the field in the Bundesliga. No rating.

BVB vs. VfL Wolfsburg: The analysis

Both teams started in possession with a back three. Wolfsburg played midfield pressing and should have taken the lead quickly thanks to Nmecha’s big chance, but BVB keeper Kobel sensationally thwarted (3rd). Dortmund then superior, however, without becoming mandatory in front of the box.

That changed abruptly after the opening goal, when BVB got into a frenzy, kept getting behind the VfL defense from the flanks and were able to go on attack after attack almost without resistance. Wolfsburg completely lost their role in this phase, with many quick turnovers, disembodied duels and no order.

VfL coach Kohfeldt switched to a 4-5-1 shortly before the break and was out for damage limitation. That turned out to be difficult against the host, who was sure of his pass, bursting with joy and greedy for the ball. Dortmund did not manage the lead, only in the final 20 minutes did BVB noticeably slow down.

Apart from a chance from the wind shortly after the break and Vranckx’ shot from the crossbar (70th), Wolfsburg hardly ever got in front of the opposing goal in an orderly and significant manner. Instead, the Lower Saxony continued to reveal glaring deficiencies in defensive behavior, although they were able to close the large gaps from the first half.

BVB – VfL Wolfsburg: The voices of the coaches

Marco Rose (Borussia Dortmund coach): “We played very dominantly, we had a lot of grip, we enjoyed playing and we scored nice goals. Tom Rothe’s goal also fits into the day. All in all we gave the fans a nice Holy Saturday.”

Florian Kohfeldt (coach VfL Wolfsburg): “There’s not much to say. In the first half it was a desolate performance in everything that a football game demands. These troughs have to end. It was a very poor performance from us.”

BVB vs. VfL Wolfsburg: The line-ups

Dortmund: Kobel – Can, Akanji (65th Pongracic), Zagadou – Witsel (78th Reinier), Bellingham – Wolf (88th Semic), Brandt (65th Moukoko), Reus, Rothe (88th Bynoe-Gittens) – Haaland.

Wolfsburg: Casteels – Lacroix (45th Mbabu), Bornauw, Brooks – Baku, Schlager (62nd Vranckx), Arnold, Gerhardt – Wind (83rd Bialek), L. Nmecha (62nd F. Nmecha), Kruse (46th Roussillon) .

BVB vs. VfL Wolfsburg: The dates of the game

Gates: 1-0 Rothe (24′), 2-0 Witsel (26′), 3-0 Akanji (28′), 4-0 Can (35′), 5-0, 6-0 Haaland (38′, 54′) ), 6: 1 Baku (82.)

At 17 years and 169 days, Tom Rothe is the youngest player in history to score on his Bundesliga debut.
18-year-old Lion Semic and 17-year-old Jamie Bynoe-Gittens also played for Dortmund professionals for the first time.
The 5-0 was Dortmund’s highest half-time lead since April 13, 2013, when BVB won 6-1 at Greuther Fürth.
Since winning the DFB Cup final in 2015, Wolfsburg has not won any of the 14 Bundesliga games against Dortmund – with 13 defeats and only one draw.
Erling Haaland ended his dry spell after five games without a goal.

The star of the game: Marco Reus (BVB)

The captain had a large radius of action and played a decisive role in almost all offensive scenes. Scored the goals to make it 3-0 and 5-0 – it was his assists number 100 and 101 in the Bundesliga. He also had his feet in the game when it was 6-0.

The flop of the match: Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg)

The goalkeeper of the guests did not look good when he conceded several goals. He has to hold Witsel’s shot to 0: 2 just like that of Can at 0: 4. Didn’t look too good at 0-1 either when he stuck to the near post on the line after a corner kick.