Borussia Dortmund was able to win the fourth game this year in the Bundesliga. In the 5-1 (1-1) win over SC Freiburg on Saturday (February 4th, 2023), Sébastien Haller scored his first competitive goal for BVB – and that on World Cancer Day.
The duel between the two pursuers of FC Bayern Munich was initially characterized by caution in the early stages. BVB and Freiburg neutralized each other, only the early yellow card for Raphael Guerreiro (5th minute) was worth mentioning. The Dortmund left-back also had the first shot on goal, but there was no danger in his attempt from 14 meters (10′).
Early sending off helps Dortmund – at least for the time being
The decisions of referee Robert Schröder then brought real excitement into the game. After 16 minutes he dismissed Freiburg’s Kiliann Sildillia after a foul on Karim Adeyemi with yellow and red – the 20-year-old had been cautioned just 73 seconds earlier.
BVB, who had started the year perfectly, now had a numerical advantage – and shortly thereafter also in terms of the number of goals. After a corner kick, Nico Schlotterbeck made it 1-0 from a tight angle and made SC keeper Mark Flekken look bad (26′).
Dortmund then dominated the game, but never overran the opponent. Freiburg managed to keep the game tight, didn’t allow too many chances for a long time – and then actually struck themselves. Schlotterbeck and his defensive colleague Niklas Süle blundered in an attack by the guests and Lucas Höler shot dryly from 16 meters to equalize (45th).
BVB striker Haller fought for this moment
As poorly as BVB had used its majority game in the first round, it came out of the half-time break just as quickly. Again, it was a rather confusing situation that helped the hosts to succeed, in this case Adeyemi tipped the ball past the multi-legged Freiburg defense into the far corner to make it 2-1 (48 ‘). Three minutes later the ball was back in the SC goal – after a very special hit.
Haller was able to celebrate a competitive goal in a Dortmund jersey for the first time (51st). The striker, who was in the starting XI for the second time after recovering from a tumor, headed in a Guerreiro cross. And that’s on World Cancer Day. Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer during preparation, after two operations he fought back and is getting closer and closer to his top form.
Shortly thereafter, he almost helped another comebacker to succeed. Marco Reus, who was there from the start for the first time since September, shot over the goal after Haller’s assist (53′), two minutes later he slammed the ball from close range onto the crossbar (55′).
Dortmund continues to follow suit
As a result, it seemed as if the first six minutes of the second half were the decisive ones of this game. Dortmund took a step back and the goal scorers Haller and Adeyemi were out of the game, Freiburg didn’t become dangerous either because they were outnumbered. And then Julian Brandt probably provided the moment that finally ended the resistance of the guests. The international made it 4-1 from 22 meters out (69′).
But the bad news for Freiburg didn’t end there. After 76 minutes there was another dismissal, but this time it didn’t hit a player, but the coach. Christian Streich had to go to the catacombs after apparently complaining too vehemently about the decisions made by referee Schröder.
The 57-year-old then had to watch the next goal on the screen. Giovanni Reyna was allowed to put in quite undisturbed (83rd), for him it was already the third joker goal this year. The American national player also provided the final point in this game.
Both teams initially challenged in the DFB Cup
Before the day-to-day league routine continues, both teams play the round of 16 of the DFB Cup during the week. Freiburg is a guest in Sandhausen (Tuesday, February 7th, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.) and Dortmund has to face Bochum one day later (8:45 p.m.).
In the Bundesliga, BVB is fighting for points away from Bremen (Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Freiburg welcomes VfB Stuttgart at the same time.