BVB hand Leipzig their first defeat of the season

Borussia Dortmund has come back strongly in the Bundesliga and inflicted its first defeat of the season on RB Leipzig.

In the 2-1 win in front of 81,365 spectators, Benjamin Sesko (27th minute) put the guests in the lead, Maximilian Beier (30th) and Serhou Guirassy (65th) turned the game in favor of BVB.

First defeat of the season for Leipzig

It was the first defeat of the season for RB Leipzig. Coach Marco Rose’s team remains second in the table and is therefore the first pursuer of league leaders Bayern Munich. Dortmund, coach Nuri Sahin’s team, improved to fifth place with 16 points.

There was great relief at BVB after the victory. “It was extremely important for the table, it was extremely important for morale,” Sahin said in an interview with Sportschau. RB coach Rose, on the other hand, had one “deserved defeat” seen his teams: “Dortmund were a bit sharper than us, quicker to act, cleaner with the ball and made better decisions”was his conclusion.

Intense, combative and passionate Spiel

The Dortmund team, with Alexander Meyer standing between the posts for the injured Gregor Kobel, did everything they could to end their sporting crisis – three competitive games without a win, including a cup exit in Wolfsburg.

From the start it was an intense, competitive and passionate game. Dortmund had their first big chance after just under ten minutes, but Maximilian Beier almost carelessly headed a cross from Jamie Gittens next to the goal.

Shortly afterwards the next high-profile. After a pass from Julian Brandt, Gittens was completely free at the penalty area, but instead of receiving the ball and going for the goal, he immediately took a shot – albeit far too weakly and right into the arms of Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. The best defense in the league, the team only conceded three goals in the first eight games, was shaky.

Leipzig scores with the first chance against BVB

Dortmund had the chances, but Leipzig scored the goal. After a deep pass to Lois Openda, he cheekily backheeled the ball to Benjamin Sesko in the penalty area. The Slovenian put the ball under the crossbar from a tight angle – it was the Saxons’ first shot on goal.

Dortmund reacted angrily. First Gittens failed again because of Gulacsi, who defused the ball with his foot with a brilliant save, but then Beier scored. After a corner from Pascal Groß, the ball came via Felix Nmecha to the striker, who poked the ball from four meters over the stunned Gulacsi into the goal. The score went into the break 1-1.

Dortmund turns the game around

At the beginning of the second half, Dortmund also picked up the pace and consistently looked for the way to the goal. After about an hour it was almost 2-1, but Nico Schlotterbeck was denied by Gulacsi, who reacted splendidly again, after a corner from six meters. Shortly afterwards, Dortmund goalkeeper Meyer sent Serhou Guirassy on his way with a long shot, but he was unable to prevail in the duel with two Leipzig players.

But in the 65th minute the time had come. After a long cross from the right side from Beier, Guirassy was there with his head. The lead was deserved, as there was absolutely no sign of the Leipzig offensive at this stage of the game.

BVB doesn’t close the bag

The game picked up speed. First came the people from Leipzig. After a great combination with Kevin Kampl, the ball landed at Eljif Elmas, but Ramy Bensebaini saved the ball from the goal line.

As a result, BVB failed to close the bag and missed two great chances. First Brandt failed to shoot directly past Gulacsi after a Gittens cross in front of the goal, then Beier finished much too hastily in front of the goal after a nice pass from Nmecha. But since Leipzig didn’t manage much going forward and the black and yellow defended passionately in the end, Dortmund’s deserved victory remained.

Dortmund in Mainz, Leipzig against Gladbach

BVB will play in the Champions League against Sturm Graz on Tuesday (November 5th, 2024, 9 p.m.). It is unclear whether Marcel Sabitzer, who was substituted with an injury, can be there. “Nothing was working for him anymore, the muscle had completely closed down,” said Sahin. He was already missing ten players against Leipzig. Against Graz he is hoping for the return of defenders Waldemar Anton and Julian Ryerson. “We hope to get as many people together as possible for Tuesday.”

On the next Bundesliga matchday, Dortmund will travel to Mainz on Saturday (November 9th, 2024, 3:30 p.m.). Leipzig welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach later in the day for the top game (6.30 p.m.).