Borussia Dortmund had to survive the first moment of shock after just two seconds when Jamie Gittens received a blow to the face and had to be treated. After a short break, the Englishman continued and BVB, after slight initial difficulties, picked up their possession game, to which Sturm Graz responded with offensive forechecking.
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However, the home side played the open spaces better and better and often restricted the Styrians, who made life difficult for themselves with weak passing, in their own half. As a result, BVB had their first double chance in the 15th minute when storm keeper Scherpen was there to beat Sabitzer and Beier.
Beier with the greatest chance
However, Dortmund were unable to convert their field dominance into anything countable until the break. The strong Nico Schlotterbeck often found takers on the right wing for his impressive diagonal balls, but the attacks there fizzled out again and again. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Beier had the best chance of taking the lead (43′), but the summer newcomer failed after a strong solo effort by SK captain Kiteishvili, who saved on the line.
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BVB maintained their dominance in the second half, but there were even fewer chances. The Westphalians wore themselves out more and more on the Austrian defensive block, with Malen Nuri Sahin was only able to bring a useful professional accent from the bench. But it stung, shortly before the end it was the Dutchman who scored the redeeming 1-0.
Torfolge
1:0 Grind (86.): Malen intercepts the ball and plays it directly to Guirassy. He delays briefly and waits until Malen has sprinted into position and gives it back to the Dutchman at exactly the right moment. He confidently converts into the far corner.
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The grades for BVB
Substituted:
67‘ Donyell Malen (2.5) for Sabitzer
77‘ Cole Campbell for Gittens
89‘ Ayman Azhil for Beier
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