Against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (November 25th, 2023) in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund was behind by two goals early on and still won. In the end a draw was also possible.
The goals for BVB in the 4:2 (3:2) were scored by Marcel Sabitzer (30th minute), Niclas Füllkrug (32nd), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (45th) and Donyell Malen (90th + 7th). “It definitely won’t be boring with us this season,” Dortmund coach Edin Terzic told ARD radio. Rocco Reitz (13th) and Manu Koné (28th) had previously given Borussia Mönchengladbach the lead.
To the live ticker: Dortmund – Gladbach arrow right 12th matchday arrow right
In the Bundesliga table, BVB (24 points) moved past RB Leipzig (23) to fourth place in the Champions League after their seventh win of the season. Gladbach is stuck in no man’s land in the table with 13 points.
Sports show, November 25th, 2023 5:18 p.m
Gladbach’s Reitz and Koné show Dortmund’s weaknesses
The guests from Mönchengladbach got off to a better start in this encounter. Gladbach took the lead after Alassane Pléa served Reitz with a fine pass. Opponent Nico Schlotterbeck just ran behind. Reitz took the shot and celebrated; his shot initially hit the left inside post, but then found its way over the goal line.
Even with Gladbach’s second goal, Dortmund’s defense didn’t look confident. A corner from Franck Honorat initially cleared the defense, but it didn’t clear well enough. Honorat was allowed to cross again, this time he found Koné, who then took on three Dortmund players. Mats Hummels and Julian Ryerson also just watched as Koné moved to the middle and then scored from 14 meters.
Gladbach last won a Bundesliga game in Dortmund in March 2014. At that moment there was no small indication that this series would come to an end nine and a half years later. But it did not get to that.
Two goals within 120 seconds – BVB shows morale
Two more goals were scored within 120 seconds, but this time the other Borussia celebrated, BVB celebrated. First Julian Brandt appeared in the Gladbach penalty area and crossed, then Sabitzer volleyed the ball and hit it well. Because Gladbach’s Joe Scally then made a slight deflection, Moritz Nicolas had no chance of defending in goal. “From that point on we played a really great game,” said Dortmund coach Terzic.
The equalizer came shortly afterwards when Bynoe-Gittens headed in for Füllkrug. Füllkrug lifted the ball from 14 meters with his right foot into the top right corner. It was perhaps the most spectacular action in a spectacular first half. But it wasn’t the last excitement before the break.
Dortmund turns the game around because Bynoe-Gittens also scores
Immediately before the end of the first half, Borussia Dortmund actually scored again and turned the game around. Bynoe-Gittens was the decisive factor this time, and it started with a bad pass. Bynoe-Gittens, 19, lost the ball in his own penalty area and was lucky that the same thing happened to Gladbach’s Koné seconds later. Bynoe-Gittens came into play again via Marco Reus and Füllkrug. He raised his head once, then he shot, flat and precise, into the bottom left corner.
“That’s very annoying,” said Gladbach coach Gerardo Seoane in an interview with ARD radio about his team’s weakest phase in this game. We now have to look for the reasons why “we give away a lot in fifteen minutes.”
Sports show, November 25th, 2023 5:18 p.m
BVB almost scored a fourth goal in the third minute of stoppage time when Reus appeared free in front of goalkeeper Nicolas and tried a lob. But he didn’t lob into the goal, he lobbed at Nicolas’ chest.
Dortmund’s Reus only hits the crossbar
After the break, the excitement became less frequent, but when it did occur, Dortmund almost always played a decisive role. First Füllkrug headed a cross from Ryerson from close range towards the goal, but goalkeeper Nicolas made a strong save (52′). Two minutes later, Nicolas also saved a shot from Bynoe-Gittens. And then came the 56th minute and with it a free kick for BVB. Reus lifted the ball over the wall, but it only hit the crossbar. Nicolas would have been beaten this time.
Only centimeters are missing from Kramer’s shot
Dortmund’s victory remained, and they initially feared in stoppage time before actually celebrating again. It was the sixth minute of stoppage time when Gladbach’s joker Christoph Kramer shot on the edge of the penalty area. He hit the ball well, he hit it pretty well. Only centimeters were missing to equalize.
The Gladbachers now threw everything forward. At a corner, Nicolas also came forward. When Dortmund cleared, they saw a lot of free space in front of them, but no opposing goalkeeper. Malen started running from his own penalty area with the ball at his feet. He ran all over the field, then hit the empty goal.
Gladbach welcomes TSG, BVB in Leverkusen
On matchday 13, Borussia Mönchengladbach hosts TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Dortmund is challenged away against Leverkusen (Sunday, December 3rd, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.).
