After being outnumbered for a long time, Borussia Dortmund narrowly loses the exciting duel with RB Leipzig. Red offender Mats Hummels is self-critical.
Despite a great fight in a final offensive in stoppage time, Borussia Dortmund lost the exciting Bundesliga duel against RB Leipzig 2:3 (1:1). BVB played outnumbered for a long time because Mats Hummels was shown red after just 15 minutes for an emergency stop.
Leipzig took advantage of their numerical superiority, scoring through Ramy Bensebaini (32nd, own goal), Christoph Baumgartner (54th) and Yussuf Poulsen (90th + 1). The strong Dortmund team had in the meantime equalized through Niklas Süle (45th + 6) and shortened it through Niclas Füllkrug (90th + 3).
Hummels falls Openda
The game-deciding scene started in the 12th minute with a strong tackle from Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs, who intercepted a through ball from Salih Özcan. Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier’s tackle immediately afterwards was less successful; he was unable to stop Xaver Schlager’s pass. The ball slipped through to Lois Openda and Leipzig’s attacker had a clear path.
Hummels stopped Openda with a tackle without much chance of getting the ball. Sven Jablonski immediately gave Hummels a penalty and a yellow card. However, the video assistant had to clarify two millimeter decisions.
VAR takes two and a half minutes
Pascal Müller took two and a half minutes in the Cologne cellar and made the following decision: Openda was just offside when Schlager passed and Hummels’ foul took effect just outside the penalty area. The result: free kick for Leipzig and red for Hummels.
“The defeat is on me,” Hummels wrote on social media: “I can never go down to the tackle and leave the boys on the field for 80 minutes with one less man.”
Praise and criticism from Terzic
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic sent praise and criticism towards his defense chief in the Sportschau interview: “I think it’s great of Mats to say and admit that straight away, that speaks for him. He knows that we can’t allow ourselves to be in this situation too often and I hope that not only he learns from this situation, but also the team .”
Daniela Müllenborn, Sportschau, December 9th, 2023 9:23 p.m
RB coach Marco Rose’s conclusion about the game was also ambivalent: “On the one hand, I’m very happy with the three points. On the other hand, we didn’t do a few things so well today, which meant that we had to tremble again in the end when we had the majority.”
Bensebaini heads into his own goal
Dortmund survived the free kick after Hummels’ foul unscathed, but the defensive battle that followed only lasted 17 minutes. Then Bensebaini involuntarily did what Leipzig had failed to do on several occasions before: he scored into the Dortmund goal because his defensive header from a corner backfired.
Surprisingly, Dortmund came back into the game better after going behind despite being outnumbered and even had chances. In stoppage time in the first half, Meunier was denied by Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich from close range, then Süle used his surprisingly large space.
After initially defending a corner, Leipzig left the defender unmarked at the second post. Julian Brandt crossed accurately, Süle volleyed in from close range. The central defender was only on the pitch at the time because he had come on as Hummels’ replacement for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens after being sent off.
Baumgartner exploits rebounds
Süle was also involved in the next goal after the break. He took a big risk with a tackle as the second-to-last man, but missed the ball. Kobel was then only able to let a shot from Xavi Simons bounce forward, and Baumgartner was dusted.
As a result, Leipzig largely had the game under control without shining and only having a few good chances. Dortmund fought hard against it and occasionally even managed to finish. But first Leipzig scored again after Poulsen knocked out Nico Schlotterbeck.
Final offensive from Dortmund
After Füllkrug’s header there was hope again and Süle and Gio Reyna actually had chances to equalize in the final offensive, but their shots failed.
BVB remains in fifth place, but is now four points behind Leipzig in sixth place. Dortmund have only won one of their last six Bundesliga games. Nevertheless, he still feels support in the club, said coach Terzic: “It can only be done together. We are in a phase that doesn’t feel easy. But I have no problem getting back up after setbacks and thinking about solutions again and inspiring the boys.”
Sports show, December 9th, 2023 9:32 p.m
BVB in Augsburg, Leipzig against Hoffenheim
Dortmund’s Champions League home game against Paris Saint-Germain’s starting team is on Wednesday at 9 p.m. RB Leipzig welcomes Young Boys Bern at 6:45 p.m.
On the 15th Bundesliga matchday, both teams will play on Saturday, BVB at FC Augsburg at 3:30 p.m. and Leipzig against Hoffenheim at 6:30 p.m.