Second Champions League group game against Newcastle United, second coup: Thanks to a unified team performance, Borussia Dortmund now has a very good chance of reaching the round of 16.
On Tuesday (November 7th, 2023), BVB, who had already won the first leg in Newcastle 1-0, impressed both in terms of combat and play and earned a 2-0 (1-0) victory. The goals were scored by Niclas Füllkrug (26th) and Julian Brandt (79th).
With the win, Dortmund now have seven points and are leading the Group F table for the time being. AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain play against each other later in the evening (9 p.m.). Because the direct comparison and not the goal difference is decisive in the Champions League group phase, the two wins against Newcastle may still be worth gold if there is a tie on points in the table.
BVB starts strong: offensive drive, possession of the ball, discipline
BVB took the initiative against Newcastle after their 4-0 humiliation in the league against Bayern Munich and left no doubt that they wanted to offer something to the fans in the Westfalenstadion. Borussia got stuck in the attacking third and pushed the British into a defensive position. BVB were better positioned in the gaps, Newcastle hardly ever got over the halfway line.
After almost 20 minutes, coach Edin Terzic’s team had almost 75 percent of the ball possession and won over 60 percent of the duels. Dortmund, again without captain Emre Can, who was injured in the first leg, was physically present in the center with Felix Nmecha, Salih Özcan and Marcel Sabitzer and confident in passing. The more offensive Brandt also provided exemplary support in the defensive work.
Karim Adeyemi, who was new to the starting line-up, also brought a breath of fresh air and set the tone with his speed. He failed with a tight finish to Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope (16th).
Newcastle more active and dangerous from set pieces after conceding a goal
Accordingly, BVB’s lead goal was deserved. A throw-in in his own half found striker Füllkrug, who dropped it and made his way forward. He stayed in the situation, ultimately played a magical one-two with Sabitzer in the penalty area and earned his first Champions League goal.
After that, Dortmund allowed themselves to be pushed back. Newcastle attacked earlier, played more courageously and more precisely. The “Magpies” fought for more possession of the ball against increasingly passive hosts. But real danger only arose with set pieces. Fabian Schär tested Gregor Kobel’s reflexes after a corner (32′), and Joelinton’s header was also denied by the BVB goalkeeper (45’+1).
Borussia Dortmund survives phase of inferiority
The first offensive scene of the second half also went to Newcastle, where Anthony Gordon, who was surprisingly not included in the starting line-up, also came into play (46th). BVB did not put any pressure on the guests in the build-up to the game. Schär lifted the ball over the Dortmund back four into the path of Valentino Livramento, and Kobel defused the cross pass (49′). Joelinton then missed a huge chance with his header (56′).
There was still a lot of hard work ahead of BVB, who initially spent a lot of time working collectively against the ball. Dortmund only started to move forward at certain points until a good long-range attempt from Brandt broke this phase (58th). Borussia survived the defeat unscathed.
In the final phase, Dortmund was given more freedom to put forward their own attacks. Newcastle paid a bit of tribute to the pace they had lost. And Brandt took advantage of that. He was sent on his way by Adeyemi and suddenly had a lot of free space in front of him. Then he deliberately pushed the ball into the goal for the final score.
BVB challenged in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart
Before the Champions League continues with the guest appearance at AC Milan at the end of November (November 28th, 2023, 9 p.m.), Borussia Dortmund will play games in the Bundesliga again. BVB will be visiting VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (3:30 p.m.). Dortmund is level on points with the Swabians (21), but is in fourth place due to the worse goal difference.