Borussia Dortmund have finally shown international class in the constant English rain and, after passing their school-leaving exams, have greatly improved their chances of reaching the round of 16 in the Champions League. Coach Edin Terzic’s courageous team won 1-0 (1-0) at Newcastle United and is back in the strong Group F at half-time.
Felix Nmecha (45th) scored Dortmund’s first win and first goal in the premier class this season against the sixth-place team in the Premier League. The next step towards the knockout phase should take place in the second leg against Newcastle on November 7th.
Terzic had to cope with some bad news before kick-off in atmospheric St. James’ Park. The in-form national player Julian Brandt was ruled out due to calf problems, but Marcel Sabitzer moved into the starting line-up. Marius Wolf also replaced Julian Ryerson, who was ill.
Nevertheless, after a long day in the surrounding pubs and a loud fan march to the stadium at the highest point in the city, the BVB supporters who traveled with them were just as confident as Sebastian Kehl. “We know it will be an intense game. But we want to take at least one point and then win the home game,” said the sports director immediately before the game started.
And the guests got off to a stormy start. Donyell Malen was denied by United goalkeeper Nick Pope after 68 seconds. In return, BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was immediately challenged against Anthony Gordon.
In contrast to the fearsome football in the opening defeat in Paris (0-2), the German runner-up appeared alert and active in an intense initial phase. BVB kept pressing. After a strong ball win by captain Emre Can, Malen and Niclas Füllkrug shot from the best position but shot too centrally to Pope (10th).
BVB are lucky: Newcastle only hits the crossbar shortly before the end
However, the guests remained vulnerable to counterattacks. Kobel again prevented Gordon from falling behind (11th), shortly afterwards former Dortmund player Alexander Isak had to go down injured. The goalscorer only made a brief comeback last weekend after his knee problems; his nomination for the starting eleven was surprising and obviously came too early.
But BVB also had to cope with a personnel setback. Shortly before half-time, Can limped off the pitch supported by two supervisors, he kept shaking his head after being hit on the thigh and was replaced by Salih Özcan. Unimpressed by this, the Black and Yellows struck in the first half. Central defender Nico Schlotterbeck stopped Gordon, moved forward into the game and, with a good overview, served Nmecha, who overcame the strong Pope.
BVB did not initially retreat after the break. The first shot belonged to Marco Reus (52nd). But then Kobel was called upon. The Swiss national goalkeeper prevented Isak’s replacement Callum Wilson from equalizing (57′). Füllkrug had previously lost the ball.
Newcastle now gained new courage and brought in the Italian international Sandro Tonali despite the allegations of illegal betting. The BVB defense around the experienced Mats Hummels, who exuded a lot of confidence, and the attentive Schlotterbeck were now significantly more challenged in the increasingly heavy rain – and were lucky: Wilson’s header hit the crossbar (86th).