Despite being outnumbered for 30 minutes: End of the away curse – BVB wins in Wolfsburg

In the seventh away game it finally worked: Borussia Dortmund got their first away win of the season with a 3-1 (3-0) win in Wolfsburg. However, the Sahin team had to suffer because they were outnumbered – veteran Pascal Groß was sent off with a straight red card half an hour before the end. Ultimately, BVB held on to their lead from a strong first half.

BVB coach Nuri Sahin found simple reasons for the victory: “You have to analyze it honestly and soberly: because of the first half. We played really well, had very good positional play and kept going forward with determination. In the second half “We brought the opponent back into the game completely unnecessarily and then you have to defend. Then you get a red card, which is completely unnecessary because of the dominance in the first half.”

His counterpart Ralph Hasenhüttl analyzed honestly: “We lacked the energy we needed in the first half. There were too few duels and too many bad passes, we were under pressure from the start. Overall it wasn't good enough to get something against such an opponent.”

Horror idea avoid

BVB traveled to Wolfsburg with a horror performance. If BVB were to come away empty-handed in the VW city – so far this season they haven't managed a single away win – they would spend the winter in eleventh place in the league. Eleventh place! Borussia Dortmund! Unthinkable.

This was exactly what the professionals in black and yellow wanted to avoid with all their might. So things went forward – from the first minute. And after less than two minutes, BVB should have been in the lead. The lively Donyell Malen had made space on the right. His cross landed at Julian Brandt, who managed the trick of putting the ball over the Wolfsburg box from four meters.

Brandt awards two top-class awards

That would have been it – the important early lead that would have been so good for BVB. In addition, it was also important to take revenge in Wolfsburg for the exit from the DFB Cup. At the end of October, BVB lost 1-0 to VfL in the second round of the competition. Because he had acted far too passively back then.

Show initiative – that's what coach Nuri Sahin wanted this time. He had positioned accordingly. Behind the double leadership of Serhou Guirassy and Maxi Beier, three more offensive players were allowed to play: Brandt, Malen and Jamie Gittens. Brandt also had BVB's second good opportunity. After Gitten's preparatory work on the left, this time he finished ten meters in front of the goal – again over it (15th).

Standard breaks the spell – BVB with a hat-trick

The fact that the black and yellow team were soon able to celebrate was thanks to a well-rehearsed standard situation. After Ramy Bensebaini's corner, three BVB players blocked Malen, who had no trouble sinking the ball in from five meters. It was 0:1 (25th).

And now it happened: After Bensebaini's clever pass deep, Brandt directed the ball further into the path of Beier – who hit the left inside post directly with his outside instep – 0:2 (28th). And further: This time with Beier over the right and the flat cross into the center, where Brandt didn't hesitate for long but took it straight away and hit it flat into the far corner to make it 0-3 (30th).

Wolfsburg much too airy

And VfL? It was shocking how airily Wolfsburg defended. The previous week in the 2:3 in Freiburg they had allowed far too much at the back. This time there was hardly anything going forward. In the 36th minute, VfL's first ever goal came when Mattias Svanberg's header from close range was denied by BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

VfL-Nmecha and Amoura miss great opportunities

Speaking of Kobel: VfL came storming back onto the pitch from the break. And put BVB under pressure to have a mega chance to score the next goal in the 49th minute. Substitute Lukas Nmecha was suddenly free in front of Kobel after a deep pass. The older of the Nmecha brothers had time, looked and shot to the right. But Kobel had suspected that – and defused the situation with a mega parade.

Three minutes later the next opportunity. This time Mohamed Amoura had a lot of space on the left. Instead of going straight for the Dortmund goal, the Algerian pulled up again and lost his rhythm. Under pressure, his shot landed well above the Dortmund box.

BVB too passive – Groß sees red

VfL was now in control. And the next chance was there: After a corner kick, defender Denis Vavro rose highest and nodded in – the score was only 1:3 (58th). Three minutes later the next blow: Pascal Groß pulled the emergency brake against the speeding Nmecha – he had to go down with a straight red. And Wolfsburg had the advantage on the field half an hour before the end.

BVB had often given up leads in recent games. Not this time. Led by central defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and substitute Waldemar Anton, the BVB defense now held tight. And celebrated their first away win of the season on matchday 15.

Dortmund welcomes the champions

At the start of matchday 16, Borussia Dortmund welcomes Bayer Leverkusen (10.01, 8:30 p.m.). VfL Wolfsburg plays away at TSG Hoffenheim (11.01, 3:30 p.m.)