After three defeats in one week, BVB coach Nuri Sahin is under massive pressure. He can only field a skeleton team against the still unbeaten Leipzig team. BVB fell behind early on, then two new additions provided great relief.
With a convincing win, Borussia Dortmund gave the perfect answer to their recent series of defeats and enormously strengthened coach Nuri Sahin. The BVB, which was severely depleted in terms of personnel, defeated RB Leipzig 2-1 (1-1) and thus spoiled the anniversary of its former coach Marco Rose. He suffered the first defeat of the season in his 100th competitive game for RB.
The triumph was extremely important for Sahin. After three setbacks in the Champions League, the league and the DFB Cup, Maximilian Beier (30th) and Serhou Guirassy (65th) scored a redeeming victory for BVB, who compensated for the absence of ten players with a lot of effort and passion. Benjamin Sesko (27th) had put the guests in the lead, but an impressive series in the league ended for RB. Leipzig had been unbeaten in 19 games and is now three points behind Bayern Munich in the table.
For Sahin it was the fifth win in the fifth home game, and one with which the recently criticized coach certainly gained arguments for himself. During the week and again immediately before kick-off, he emphasized how important the support in the stadium was in this critical phase. And the fans struggled to comply with the coach's request.
RB answers coldly
Leipzig possession passages were accompanied by whistles, Dortmund ball wins were celebrated even louder than usual – but RB did not allow themselves to be unsettled by the heated atmosphere. Leipzig initially controlled the game with a lot of possession, but were initially unable to create any opportunities against the reorganized defense, in which Emre Can defended centrally and Pascal Groß defended on the right.
BVB was completely different: Dortmund relied on quick transitions and had three good chances in the first 20 minutes. The best was missed by Jamie Gittens (14th), who, after a counterattack, shot completely free into the arms of Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
But RB answered coldly. In the midst of a phase in which both teams neutralized each other, Sesko suddenly appeared in the Dortmund penalty area and effortlessly scored Leipzig's first shot on goal. But when Beier equalized just a little later with his debut goal for BVB, Sahin breathed a sigh of relief in the dugout.
It remained intense, both teams threw themselves into the duels, numerous fouls and interruptions noticeably disrupted the flow of the game. Referee Tobias Stieler had a lot to do – he handed out five yellow cards in the first half alone.
Even after the break, the top game wasn't high-class – it thrived on tension and became increasingly heated. Dortmund managed to push RB back and establish themselves in Leipzig's half. Nico Schlotterbeck (59th) failed because of Gulacsi, the recently much-maligned captain Can pounded his fist passionately on the BVB coat of arms after winning a duel.
Guirassy rewarded Dortmund for their strong performance in the second half. He headed a cross from Beier into the goal and caused excitement in the stands. Julian Brandt (72nd) and Beier (74th) missed the 3-1, so RB stayed in the game.
