Even the most loyal BVB fans felt little appetite for applause after the first defeat of the year. During the obligatory walk of the dismayed Dortmund professionals to the south stand after the sensitive 2:3 (2:1) against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday evening, the whistles predominated. Coach Edin Terzic’s team suffered a bitter setback in the fight for the Champions League places; the upward trend since the end of the winter break was suddenly over.
The goals conceded by Ihlas Bebou (2nd minute) and Maximilian Beier (61st/64th) in front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park on Sunday deprived the fourth-placed team of the chance to extend their lead over their pursuers from Leipzig, who lost in Munich, to four points .
“We can’t give up a game like this anymore. We had a lot of sloppy actions and had problems continuing the game from the first half. Of course that’s bitter,” said Dortmund goalkeeper Alexander Meyer on the internet broadcaster DAZN. Teammate Julian Brandt added: “In the end there was chaos.”
As in the last two games in Wolfsburg (1:1) and Eindhoven (1:1), the runner-up had a lot to be desired despite the interim lead by Donyell Malen (21st) and Nico Schlotterbeck (25th). The guests, on the other hand, achieved their first success after eight competitive games without a win; they improved to seventh place.
A blackout by Emre Can, who was replacing Mats Hummels in the back four because of a short-term illness, ushered in disaster for BVB. Can, who had been out of form for weeks, made a major bad pass to Nico Schlotterbeck, which Bebou took advantage of with a powerful shot from the right wing position to give Hoffenheim a 1-0 lead.
Beier as the main actor
But the early deficit acted as a wake-up call for Dortmund, who had recently been rather sedate. They quickly tried to minimize the damage. Marcel Sabitzer threatened the peat twice when he tested TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann with a direct shot (7th) and a free kick (9th).
BVB’s pressure on the guests’ goal increased continuously. With a brilliant save after a low shot from Malen (20th), goalkeeper Baumann was able to prevent the equalizer. However, just a minute later he was also powerless when the Dutchman sent Marco Reus’s header from close range into the net following a corner.
The bogeyman for BVB: Maximilian Beier scores two goals within three minutes: Image: AFP
The fact that Borussia managed to remedy Can’s mistake in the second minute before the break was not only due to the powerful game, but also to the efficiency of set pieces. After a free kick from Reus, central defender Schlotterbeck was there with a header.
Nevertheless, the guests remained dangerous on the counterattack. When Bebou passed the ball, Tohumcu (27′) had the chance to equalize, but didn’t hit the ball properly. In the final phase of the first half, TSG was able to relieve some of the pressure, but was unable to provide any decisive impetus forward.
Daniel Theweleit, Eindhoven Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2 Daniel Theweleit, Eindhoven Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2 Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Published/Updated:
After the restart, BVB initially took things a little more slowly – and made another mistake in defense when Ryerson served Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier in front of their own penalty area. But the midfielder missed the gift and shot over the goal from 16 meters.
Nevertheless, Beier took on the role of the leading actor a little later. He completed a counterattack with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Schlotterbeck deflected unstoppable for BVB keeper Alexander Meyer. Just three minutes later, Beier finally spoiled Borussia’s mood and pushed Anton Stach’s pass over the line from close range. In the end, a great chance for Can in stoppage time was not enough for Dortmund.
