From BZ/dpa
What a crazy game! Fourth league win in a row for Borussia Dortmund, seventh competitive defeat in a row for Union Berlin: In a turbulent game with two leadership changes and a lot of video chaos, the end result was 4:2 (1:2) for BVB.
This not only continues the current form series of the two Champions League participants, but also the history of both clubs: Dortmund has now won all five home games against Union, something BVB previously only managed against 1. FC Saarbrücken.
“This is an extremely difficult situation right now,” said Union’s Kevin Behrens. Robins Gosens before the international break: “Maybe a break will do us some good now.”
Niclas Füllkrug actually gave BVB a dream start (7th). National team colleague Robin Gosens (9th) with his fourth goal in the seventh Bundesliga game for Union and Italian former world champion Leonardo Bonucci with his first goal for the Iron Men (31st, penalty kick) turned the game around before the break.
Leonardo Bonucci made it 2-1 for Union with this penalty Photo: City Press
Nico Schlotterbeck, who was not called up to the national team this time, unlike his neighbor Mats Hummels, equalized (49th). Julian Brandt (54th), who only came into the game as a joker, then made it 3-2 and was involved in a goal in the sixth Bundesliga game in a row. Strong ex-Union player Julian Ryerson made the final score (71st). ). DFB comebacker Hummels has now celebrated 207 wins with BVB and has replaced Michael Zorc as the record holder.
The Berliners were very deep with their three-man chain, so that it was usually a real five-man chain. But they also placed needle pricks. Hummels and Union striker Kevin Behrens, two of the big surprises in national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s first DFB squad, had particularly interesting duels.
And then the guests conceded a goal against which no defensive bulwark was of use: after a corner from Marco Reus, Frederik Rönnow saved the header from the completely free-standing Füllkrug, but the national player used the follow-up shot to score his first goal as a BVB striker at Signal Iduna Park. With this goal, Dortmund were ahead in the live table, but a minute and a half later they conceded the equalizer after a corner when Füllkrug unfortunately extended Gosens’ header into the goal.
And from the 18th minute onwards the video chaos began. Because seven of the next twelve minutes were not played.
First, ex-Schalke player Alex Král headed in a free kick to make it 1-2. However, the goal was conceded via video evidence after an agonizingly long four minutes. According to Sky, the long duration was due to a technical defect. Král was no longer on the field when the decision was made. The Czech was substituted during the check. It was not initially known whether he was injured during the goal or before.
Dortmund turns the game around: Julian Brandt scores freely in front of Union goalkeeper Rönnow to make it 3-2 for BVB Photo: INA FASSBENDER / AFP
The picture was then repeated on the other side when Füllkrug celebrated a goal after a free kick from Reus. The check still took almost two minutes because Füllkrug had not touched the ball, but referee Patrick Ittrich still considered his position to be active. And then Ittrich suddenly ran back to the screen and gave Union a penalty. After Hummels’ foul on Sheraldo Becker, the game continued for some time, although the situation was clear.
Bonucci converted and became the second oldest goal debutant in the Bundesliga after Morten Olsen. The injury time of six minutes in the first half didn’t even fully make up for the time of the three video checks.
Union’s Danilho Doekhi hangs his head after Dortmund’s 3-2 win Photo: City Press
When football started playing again, BVB initially found it difficult to keep up with the deficit. Above all, the game at the top was far too unimaginative. So a violent shot was needed. Someone like von Schlotterbeck, who hit the opposite corner of the goal from 20 meters at 86 km/h. BVB switched to a three-man chain during the break and the one more man in midfield had an invigorating effect. And then the one who had come in during the break also took the lead when Brandt won the ball himself at the back and was served by Reus at the front.
Gosens unfortunately deflected Ryerson’s shot before the score was 4-2. The Norwegian, who played for the Iron Men for four and a half years, did not celebrate. The Union fans sang ironically: “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life”.