In the final minutes, Nuri Sahin nervously waited on the sideline for the final whistle. When the fully deserved 2-1 (1-1) win in the top game of the Bundesliga against RB Leipzig was confirmed, the relieved Borussia Dortmund coach smiled. In the stands, sports director Lars Ricken and club advisor Matthias Sammer hugged each other with relief. After three competitive defeats in a row, the fifth win in the fifth league home game was a liberating blow for the team and especially for the not undisputed coach Sahin.
“It strengthens us all. In the end we need victories to bring peace to the shop. Victories help – for everyone,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl on Sky: “After a game like this you feel relief, but also joy. I believe that the team really deserves this victory.” However, Kehl also demanded: “This has to be the standard for how we want to play in the future.”
After four away defeats in a row, goals from Maximilian Beier (30th) and Serhou Guirassy (65th) caused great celebration among the Westphalians, who were severely weakened in terms of substitutes. For Leipzig, who had only conceded three goals in eight games this season, only Benjamin Sesko (27th) scored. The Saxons suffered another defeat after 19 games unbeaten across the season and are now three points behind FC Bayern in the table. With 16 points, BVB moved back into the Champions League ranks and is fifth in the table at least until Sunday.
Sabitzer down injured, Bensebaini with a fifth yellow card
However, there is a threat of new personnel difficulties. Marcel Sabitzer had to leave the field injured, and left-back Ramy Bensebaini saw his fifth yellow card and will add to Dortmund’s list of absences in the next Bundesliga game at FSV Mainz. Sahin was already missing ten professionals against Leipzig.
The pressure on the 36-year-old coach was great before kick-off. Only thirteen points after eight matchdays – Dortmund was last weaker ten years ago at the same time. Even though Ricken had once again demonstratively supported the young head coach in the past few days, Sahin confessed to Sky before the game: “It’s difficult, I’ve had better days in my life.”
It suited Westphalia’s situation that the guests, who had been harmless for a long time, took the lead with their first shot on goal. After half an hour, Sesko used Lois Openda’s backheel work from a tight angle into the net because Alexander Meyer didn’t raise his arms quickly enough in the BVB goal. The 33-year-old represented Gregor Kobel, who was also injured at short notice.
Dortmund clearly set the tone in the first half. Jamie Gittens alone missed two top-class goals (14th/29th). After a corner, the previous season’s Champions League finalist quickly got a well-deserved equalizer through Beier and was greeted with encouraging applause for his courageous performance at the break.
After the change, an open exchange of blows developed as Dortmund’s courageous performance continued. Guirassy headed in to the cheers of most of the 81,365 spectators after Beier’s preparatory work to give BVB the lead. And the Westphalians should have led higher and decided the game earlier. With several brilliant deeds, RB keeper Peter Gulasci became the best player for the ultimately disappointing Leipzig team.
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