The BVB professionals were only happy for a short time; after the last-minute point rescue in the top game, a smile flashed across coach Niko Kovac’s face late on.
BVB (Borussia Dortmund) maintained its super streak in a thrilling final phase at RB Leipzig in the evening. There is little left of Bayern’s hunt before the direct duel in the Bundesliga with Munich next weekend after the 2-2 (0-2) draw with the Saxons.
BVB angry with VAR after a duel against Adeyemi
“We got an annoying two goals,” said BVB keeper Gregor Kobel on Sky broadcaster: But it’s not the case that Leipzig can’t play football. BVB is now eight points behind league leaders Munich. “Basically it’s good that the team came back again,” emphasized BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl, but complained: “We didn’t do really well in the first half.”
Kehl said they were closer to winning the game in the second half and also claimed a penalty after a challenge with Karim Adeyemi, who fell in the Leipzig penalty area in the final phase. Much to Borussia’s displeasure, the VAR decided not to carry out a review.
After all, Borussia extended their unbeaten streak to 16: Only three teams (AC Milan, Fenerbahce Istanbul and Slavia Prague) are currently better in Europe. Leipzig remains fifth.
In front of 47,800 fans, Christoph Baumgartner became a Leipzig hero in the first half. The Saxons’ top scorer completed the almost identical move twice and secured the well-deserved half-time lead with goals in the 20th and 39th minutes. Leipzig brought Dortmund back into the game, Romulo (50th) scored an own goal. In the fifth minute of injury time, Fabio Silva equalized after a pass from Karim Adeyemi.
Dortmund remains something of a development opponent for Leipzig, who have been below average in terms of performance and points collection so far this year. The draw was the Saxons’ sixth home game against BVB without defeat; previously there had been five wins. Also, Niko Kova stays? in the coaching duel with Ole Werner without a win.
Baumgartner plays with the BVB defense
Compared to the confident playoff appearance in the Champions League against Atalanta Bergamo on Tuesday, BVB coach Kova? just one change. Instead of Julian Brandt, ex-Leipzig player Marcel Sabitzer played in the attacking midfield. The Austrian international initially made little impact there. After eight minutes, BVB keeper Gregor Kobel had to intervene against Romulo for the first time.
In the direct counterattack, Maximilian Beier suddenly stormed towards the Leipzig goal, but was denied by Maarten Vandevoordt. The Belgian had moved between the posts for the injured Peter Gulacsi and is expected to replace the long-time captain as number one in the medium term. “We brought energy to the pitch and scored two very nice goals,” said Gulacsi at halftime.
Two almost identical goals from the left side. First, Nicolas Seiwald brought Yan Diomande into play with a precise diagonal ball. The shooting star of the season danced past Julian Ryerson and brought the ball flat into the middle, where Baumgartner, who ran to the near post, finished. Eight minutes later, Baumgartner chose the same route, but his shot went just wide of the far post.
Despite the failures of Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Niklas Süle, the BVB defense should now have adjusted to Baumgartner’s path. Or not: In the 37th minute, the Austrian narrowly missed the goal at the near post, two minutes later he scored for the second time after an assist from national player David Raum – his tenth Bundesliga goal of the season.
Romulo brings Dortmund back into the game
After the change, BVB promptly got back into the game – with Leipzig’s help. After a corner from Ryerson, Leipzig’s Willi Orban involuntarily extended and Romulo cannot prevent his header own goal. However, it was by no means the case that the goal served as the initial spark for BVB. Even though the guests played a little more committedly, there were no big chances for a long time.
Instead, Ridle Baku (73′) had the third RB goal on their hands. The national player circled around Kobel and only had the empty BVB goal in front of him. But the angle was already too acute, Rami Bensebaini cleared it easily.
When everything looked like a Leipzig victory, Karim Adeyemi was sent off again. The national player was quicker than Castello Lukeba, sent the ball flat across – and Fabio Silva finished effortlessly at the second post.
Kovac criticism of the VAR after BVB draw: ‘wrong decision’
Borussia Dortmund (BVB (Borussia Dortmund)) feels deprived of a possible victory after the lucky draw at RB Leipzig. Coach Niko Kovac complained that his team did not get a penalty after a duel between Karim Adeyemi and Castello Lukeba shortly before the end. “I was also a judoka until I was 13/14. That’s a sickle, that’s a sweeper,” said Kovac on Sky. “I don’t know what we saw back in the studio, but apparently the wrong thing.”
By studio, Kovac meant the video referee. He did not blame referee Benjamin Brand. “The referee can’t see that. But the one in the studio has the pictures that we also have,” said the 54-year-old. “That’s a bad decision. He’s making it.” In the end, Fabio Silva (90th + 5 minutes) scored to make it 2-2. Previously, Christoph Baumgartner (20th/39th) and RB striker Romulo (50th) scored the goals with an own goal.
Kehl: “VAR should have intervened”
Sports director Sebastian Kehl tried to talk to Brand after the final whistle, but kept the content to himself. “We don’t always have to agree,” was all the ex-professional said. “Even after a few minutes of thinking and coming down, I still believe that this is a clear penalty. The VAR should have intervened, it should have pointed to the spot. Then the game might have turned out differently.”
In the running duel between Lukeba and Adeyemi in the 89th minute, the Dortmund striker puts his foot in, causing both players to fall. “Of course Karim puts his foot in. But that’s what a striker does. It’s happened several times before and it won’t be the last time,” said Kehl. The 46-year-old assumes that the scene was checked by the video referee./bat/DP/zb
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LEIPZIG (dpa-AFX)