Borussia Dortmund temporarily takes over the top of the table in the Bundesliga, increasing the pressure on FC Bayern. In what was initially a spectacular, then passionate top game, the Black and Yellows defeated the guests from Leipzig with skill and luck.
Nico Schlotterbeck and Alexander Meyer accepted the congratulations of their relieved teammates, the Dortmund fans were already singing about the championship in the frenzy of the next victory: Thanks to splendid rescue operations by Schlotterbeck and goalkeeper Meyer deep in added time, Borussia Dortmund made it 2-1 (1-0 ) in the intense top game against RB Leipzig and secured at least one night at the top of the table with the club record of eight league wins in a row. Bayern Munich can counter on Saturday at VfB Stuttgart.
“We are very, very happy,” said captain Marco Reus at DAZN. “We had to tremble to the end. But in the end, I’d rather win than play well and lose. It was our great wish to take the lead again and keep pushing.” For a long time, Borussia moderated the Leipzig onslaught as uncompromisingly as they have done with all opponents in recent weeks. Reus (21st) converted a penalty kick and rose to become the second best goal scorer in club history (159), a shot from Emre Can (39th) deflected RB professional Xaver Schlager into the goal. After the tenth win in the tenth competitive game since the beginning of the year, Dortmund’s self-confidence is immense.
Leipzig missed the opportunity to open a four-way battle for the cup with a win. The cup winners are seven points behind and must see to securing another qualification for the Champions League. Emil Forsberg (74th) scored for RB – the urge phase in the final minutes came too late. “We played a great second half, we were under pressure and the better team,” said Forsberg: “Dortmund are doing very well, they’re on the run. All you can say is ‘congratulations’.”
RB coach Marco Rose had greeted his old BVB acquaintances in a friendly manner, and there were also “two or three phone calls” in advance. In terms of sport, he was also happy for the first time, because Christopher Nkunku, Germany’s footballer of the year, made his comeback in the RB starting eleven after 111 days. Dortmund lacked the outstanding support of the past few weeks for a very short time. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel got muscle problems while warming up, Schlotterbeck saved representative Meyer with a tackle against Nkunku before the first test (4th). After winning the ball, Leipzig played steeply into the top, where the present Nkunku and Andre Silva lurked dangerously.
Julian Brandt used the first BVB action perfectly, but referee Sven Jablonski took the goal back from Cologne after a call from VAR: Brandt had caught the ball on his arm (14′). Josko Gvardiol blocked his next shot, it went up and down at high speed until RB goalkeeper Janis Blaswich got Reus off his feet. The captain caught up with Michael Zorc in the record list. After that it got a little quieter because Dortmund’s passing chains were repeatedly interrupted and Leipzig got longer periods of ball possession. The RB attacks were initially not very consistent even after the break. Nkunku was also gone for a long time – longer pressure phases ended without precise conclusions.
BVB was solid, but found their counterattack late: Blaswich made a spectacular save against Reus (67.) Jude Bellingham Can and Salih Özcan consolidated the midfield enormously – that could also be a solution for the Champions League second leg at Chelsea on Tuesday ( Out: 1:0). On the other side, Meyer responded strongly to an Nkunku shot (70′), then Forsberg pushed the ball into the goal. In the hectic stoppage time, Schlotterbeck saved artistically with his shoulder, then the brilliant Kobel representative Meyer was there again.
