“Foals” only awake in the 2nd half
Shooting festival in Munich, resounding victory in Dortmund – the Bundesliga title fight remains more exciting than it has been for a long time. In the long-distance duel with FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund once again kept their nerves. Thanks to the 5: 2 (4: 0) over Borussia Mönchengladbach, the gap between the second in the table and the leader from Munich is still only one point.
As on the previous matchday in the 6-0 win over Wolfsburg, coach Edin Terzic’s team was not impressed by a Munich victory a few hours earlier. In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, BVB played big at times on Saturday evening and came thanks to goals from Donyell Malen (5th), Jude Bellingham (12th / penalty kick), Sébastien Haller (20th / 32nd) and Giovanni Reyna (90+4) to a deserved win. The late Gladbach goals were scored by Rami Bensebaini (75th penalty) and Lars Stindl (85th).
Although Dortmund’s hopes for support from arch-rivals FC Schalke 04 in the 0: 6 in Munich proved to be wishful thinking a few hours earlier, the reaction was positive. The starting XI, which was unchanged from the Wolfsburg game and again lacked captain Marco Reus, got off to a flying start. The first chance to score gave them the lead: Attacker Malen headed over the line from close range after a shot by Jude Bellingham was blocked.
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The Dutchman’s eighth goal in the past eight games took the pressure off Dortmund. Even the great chance of equalization seven minutes later by Gladbach’s full-back and alleged BVB newcomer Bensebaini, which was defused by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, could not stop Dortmund’s offensive urge.
With astonishing effectiveness and great enthusiasm, the Bayern pursuers – as they did against Wolfsburg – made things clear early on. A foul by Florian Neuhaus on Haller was punished by referee Daniel Schlager with a penalty, which Bellingham converted with a bit of luck.
Haller’s dream goal caused further frustration among the completely overwhelmed guests. Standing with his back to the goal, Haller transported Malen’s cross pass into the far corner in a remarkable manner and thus gave his team a decisive 3-0 lead. Less art was needed for the second goal by Haller: Malen again served the newcomer from Dortmund, who converted directly in the style of a goalscorer.
With the 0: 4 at half time, the Gladbachers were still well served. Although there were promising approaches in the game, there were astonishing gaps in the cover.
Even after the restart, Borussia from Dortmund remained the better team, but were no longer as effective in using the scoring chances as in the 1st half. In addition, with the feeling of certain victory and with a view to the remaining program with games in Augsburg and against Mainz, the team took it easy. A foul by substitute Giovanni Reyna on Bensebaini led to the first Gladbach goal. The fouled man safely converted the penalty due, and Stindl, who came on as a substitute, then brought Gladbach even closer.
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