Late Haller Goal Keeps Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League Hopes Alive in Quarter-Final Clash Against Atletico Madrid

Planless and discouraged for a long time, but ultimately not hopeless: a late goal from substitute Sébastien Haller leaves the door open for Borussia Dortmund to the semi-finals of the Champions League, despite a timid appearance. After several fatal defensive errors, BVB only lost the quarter-final first leg at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday 1:2 (0:2).

After a terribly weak performance for 45 minutes, the first semi-final entry in eleven years is still possible because Haller shortened the gap with his first goal since the first round of the cup in the 81st minute.

Previously, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Ian Maatsen, Mats Hummels in his anniversary game and Nico Schlotterbeck had invited the furious opponent to score.

Argentine world champion Rodrigo De Paul (4th) and Samuel Lino (32nd) gave the Spanish finalists from 2014 and 2016 the lead in front of 70,000 spectators.

Atlético crushed BVB in the early stages

The seething bowl of the Estadio Metropolitano, completely different from the five-story show theater of city rivals Real, was under fire. An hour and a half before kick-off, the Atleti Ultras had already covered the entire Avenida Luis Aragones with fog when the team bus pulled up – the “little monster” Atlético, as coach Edin Terzic called it, was waiting for BVB.

De Paul and Koke celebrate the early lead against BVB

Fotocredit: Getty Images

At least Hummels shouldn’t have been impressed, the veteran in central defense was making his 500th competitive game for BVB. Things turned out differently. Captain Emre Can was also ready for action after a slight illness, and Felix Nmecha surprisingly played for Julian Brandt: Dortmund felt ready.

Atlético put this to the test very vigorously. Early on, France’s 2018 world champion Antoine Griezmann played a sensational ball on the counterattack, BVB saved with a double tackle (3rd). Maatsen, who was put under unnecessary pressure by his own goalkeeper Kobel with a pass, made the pass error in the penalty area before the score was 1-0.

Hummels and Schlotterbeck in a deep sleep

Of all people, the ball bounced over Hummels’ foot for a corner, Kobel saved at full stretch against former Dortmund player Axel Witsel: BVB reeled. The players’ knees were shaking and the defensive midfield was non-existent. Longer periods of possession only started after a quarter of an hour, but there was always the threat of the next attack. The monster bit.

Terzic hectically reorganized his midfield during an injury interruption, and a Nmecha header even gave the hint of a first goal chance (31′). But the next fall into deep sleep followed: Hummels and Schlotterbeck couldn’t agree, the ball fell at Griezmann’s feet – who brilliantly lobbed it at the goalscorer Samuel Lino.

Maatsen and Jadon Sancho had at least one shot in a recovery phase before the break (43’/45′). Significantly, at the front, Niclas Füllkrug had six touches of the ball at half-time, and Terzic corrected a personnel error: Brandt was now allowed to replace the disappointing Nmecha. On the other hand, Griezmann continued to play wonderfully, while the fanatical Atléti coach Diego Simeone raged around more on the field than in his coaching zone for 90 minutes.

Brandt missed an equalizer at the last second

However, BVB stabilized at a low level and ball security increased. Then came the big excitement: Can was injured on the ground, BVB lost the ball – and Atletico played the counterattack directly past Can, who was writhing in pain. Simeone and BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl shouted at each other nose to nose on the sideline, Simeone pushed Kehl in the chest.

Sébastien Haller

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Something about the game only changed in the final phase. Haller was now allowed to try instead of the ineffective Füllkrug, BVB tried much more hard to score a goal. Schlotterbeck put a free kick over the goal (74th). It helped that Atletico no longer applied the greatest pressure. Suddenly there was even a chance to equalize.

Kehl’s argument with Simeone: Terzic doesn’t want to “hang up the scene too much”

2024-04-10 21:08:00
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