22nd matchday
Berlin (AP) – Marco Reus stood unimpressed in front of the Union fan curve and was not upset by the abuse after Dortmund’s victory.
With “Reus, Du Penner” chanting, the Berlin supporters let their frustration run free after their team’s 0: 3 (0: 2). Borussia Dortmund, led by their strong-playing captain, had previously made amends after the Leverkusen bankruptcy and reduced the gap to leaders FC Bayern Munich to six points. “We showed a reaction,” said Reus.
championship is not an issue
In the DAZN interview, Reus almost begged the moderator Laura Wontora to omit the master topic. “Don’t ask the question anymore,” he said. The BVB captain also led the way on the pitch, scoring two goals (18th/25th minute) in his Borussia team’s important win at Union Berlin. Raphael Guerreiro made it 3-0 in the second half (71st).
“Now it’s important that we also enjoy the win. That we were able to let out all the frustration that we built up in the last game and during the week. We had a very, very restless week,” said Reus.
His trainer Marco Rose was also satisfied. “We had a better overall balance in your game today,” he said after the game. Rose had summoned another six in Axel Witsel alongside Mahmoud Dahoud, while Manuel Ankanji played right-back. “We didn’t allow a lot of right counterattacks.”
In front of 10,000 spectators, the Köpenicker could not extend their impeccable record of two Bundesliga home wins against the second in the table and slipped out of the Champions League ranks on the 22nd matchday. “You can lose against such a strong Dortmund team,” said captain Christopher Trimmel and said: “Everything’s fine. Our goal remains staying up, and we’ll make it.” Union coach Urs Fischer also saw positives: “I liked the reaction of my team after the break.” Although he considered Borussia’s victory deserved, he said: “I don’t think they were the three-goal better team.”
Marco Reus scores twice
In the decisive moments, the second in the table from Dortmund, who again had to do without top striker Erling Haaland, was wide awake and physically robust. After a rebound in the Berlin penalty area, Dahoud reacted quickly and played the ball into the path of captain Reus, who completed the 1-0 goal through the legs of Union keeper Andreas Luthe (18th minute).
Seven minutes later, Reus was back with great commitment. After a long ball from Dan-Axel Zagadou, there was a duel between BVB attacker Donyell Malen and Union Bastian Oczipka. Both went down, Reus got the free ball, passed Luthe and pushed in. It was the 32-year-old’s first brace of the season.
Union is struggling
The Berliners, who also had to switch five times due to several Corona cases, found it difficult from the start to deliver a game at the limit similar to the two previous Bundesliga home wins against Westphalia. Starting eleven debutant and newcomer Sven Michel could hardly show his move to the goal. Stressing the opponent, as coach Urs Fischer had wished before the game, rarely succeeded.
After the break, however, Dortmund initially gave up the reins. Union got into the duels better and increased the pressure. But in the 71st minute, Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham tipped the ball into the middle just before the baseline. Luthe blocked Malen’s shot, but Guerreiro slotted it in. For BVB it was the 35th goal of the season in the second half of the game – a shared league high with FC Bayern. Union almost made it 1-3 with a nice header from substitute Kevin Möhwald. However, the goal was disallowed because of an elbow push by Anthony Ujah against Ankanji.