It looked like a clear win for Bayern Munich, but then came Anthony Modeste: an assist and a goal by the joker brought Borussia Dortmund a very late draw in the Bundesliga classic.
The 2:2 (1:0) of the record champions in front of 81,365 spectators was deserved in the end because Bayern just wanted to manage their two-goal lead too early – and Dortmund drew the right joker.
A lot of hardness, little class
Both teams went into the game with weak substitutes, BVB were missing Gregor Kobel, Marco Reus and Thomas Meunier, among others, Bayern started without Thomas Müller, Lucas Hernandez and Joshua Kimmich. However, the special explosiveness of this duel was immediately noticeable, which was initially reflected in exaggerated hardness instead of playful brilliance: In the first quarter of an hour alone, referee Deniz Aytekin showed Munich’s Marcel Sabitzer and Matthijs de Ligt and Dortmund’s Jew Bellingham yellow.
Far less happened in front of the gates than in the duels. Donyell Malen made a tentative first attempt after a good 20 minutes, but the ball was blocked. Manuel Neuer only had to intervene after half an hour when Raphael Gurreiro aimed at the left angle from half-left – but Neuer parried effortlessly.
First shot, straight to the lead
Even less came from the guests offensively, but they proved to be masters of effectiveness: Their first shot was right away. Jamal Musiala served Leon Goretzka on the edge of the penalty area after 32 minutes, the BVB cover was collectively too far behind at that moment – so Goretzka was able to shoot low into the left corner without being pressed.
Davies in the hospital, Bellingham in luck
Dortmund were lucky just before the change: Bellingham hit Alphonso Davies in the face with the studs after the Bayern defender had headed the ball away from him. Aytekin should have sent the Dortmund player who had already been warned off the pitch, but he showed mercy.
Davies then had to be substituted and was taken to hospital for further checks. “There is a suspicion of a concussion, which is not surprising given the kick in the face”said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann later and was surprised by Aytekin’s decision: “Four months ago we had a training session. They told us that a kick in the face is red.”
Sané catches Meyer from a distance
Dortmund came out of the cabin more determined and increased the pressure. However, Neuer deflected a deflected shot from substitute Marius Wolf over the bar, shortly afterwards Guerreiro volleyed a little too high.
The Bavarians survived the rebellious phase with considerable composure – and countered with the next effective hit. Sadio Mané missed the empty goal with his header in the 49th minute, but Leroy Sané then aimed more precisely: he took a hard shot from a good 20 meters away, Alexander Meyer got a fist on the ball, but was unable to prevent the impact.
Same error twice
As with the 0:1, when Meyer initially took a small step in the wrong direction, it was not a classic goalkeeper error, but with both goals one could well imagine that a fit Kobel would have prevented them. However, Meyer’s front men, especially Niklas Süle, hadn’t learned anything from the first goal they conceded: again they let themselves fall too far, which again left the space in front of the edge of the penalty area unoccupied.
But Dortmund wasn’t beaten yet, also because Bayern didn’t follow suit. BVB coach Edin Terzic finally increased the risk and physical component in the attack in the 70th minute by bringing in Anthony Modeste, and he was promptly rewarded: Modeste prevailed in the duel and served Youssoufa Moukoko – who let Neuer from a short distance no chance (74th).
Modeste forgives – and still hits
Eight minutes before the end, Modeste could, if not had to, belie his non-consideration in the starting XI: After brilliant preliminary work by Karim Adeyemi, he hit the ball so badly from five meters that Neuer was still able to defend it.
After that, Dortmund tried everything until the final whistle, but were initially unable to capitalize on their superior number (Kingsley Coman saw yellow-red shortly before the end). It was not until the 94th minute that the hosts struck: Modeste headed a Nico Schlotterbeck cross from close range for the acclaimed equalizer.
“We deserved the point”
After the game, Terzic was happy for Modeste, whose start to his BVB adventure could have been smoother: “We need every individual, that was the decisive factor today. I was happy with the goal to make it 2-2. We deserved the point because we threw everything forward.”
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann analyzed fairly: “In the end it’s a fair result. We could have closed the sack, then we didn’t defend the first goal we conceded. And before the second goal, Schlotterbeck just had too much time to cross. In the end it’s quite fair, even if it is 2:2 fell late.”
Dortmund and Bayern during the week in the Champions League
On Matchday 4 of the Champions League group stage, Dortmund will host FC Sevilla (Tuesday, October 11th, 2022 at 9:00 p.m.). A day later, FC Bayern is challenged away to Pilsen (9 p.m.).
On the 10th match day of the Bundesliga, the Black and Yellows will go to the old forester’s office in Union Berlin (Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.). The record champions play at home against SC Freiburg two hours later.