23rd Bundesliga matchday
League leader! BVB wins the top duel against Leipzig
Cheers in black and yellow: BVB celebrates the 2-0 goal against RB Leipzig
© Bernd Thissen / DPA
BVB is at the top of the Bundesliga, at least until Saturday. Dortmund won the top game against RB Leipzig on Friday evening 2-1.
Ten competitive games, ten wins – Borussia Dortmund is increasingly becoming a real competitor for the title of FC Bayern, which has been overwhelming for years. With the 2: 1 (2: 0) in the Bundesliga top game against RB Leipzig, the team of football teacher Edin Terzic took the lead in the table at least for one day. In front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna, Marco Reus (21st minute / penalty kick) and Emre Can (39th) scored in a high-class game on Friday for the hard-fought victory of the Revierclub, which continued the impressive flight that began after the winter break. Only with a win on Saturday in Stuttgart can Bayern pass again thanks to their better goal difference.
BVB had to do without regular keeper
On the other hand, Leipzig, coached by former BVB coach Marco Rose, suffered a setback in the fight for the championship and are now seven points behind Borussia. Emil Forsberg’s goal in the 74th minute was ultimately not enough.
Both teams started the game with a handicap. The recently highly praised BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had to pass at short notice due to muscular problems and be replaced by Alexander Meyer. Attacker Timo Werner complained to the guests about health problems before the game. For him, Christopher Nkunku, who has recovered from a torn lateral ligament, was back in the starting XI for the first time in 111 days.
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The returned striker caused a lot of problems for Borussia, who hadn’t lost a home game on a Friday night in 19 years. In both the 3rd and 7th minutes, Nkunku was close to taking the lead for Leipzig. BVB also contributed to the high entertainment value of the game from the start. But Julian Brandt’s supposed opening goal in the 13th minute was annulled because of a handball by the international.
Just eight minutes later, Dortmund were rewarded for their brisk start. After a foul by Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich on Reus, the captain took the penalty himself and converted safely. Thanks to his 159th competitive goal for BVB, Reus drew level with Dortmund record player Michael Zorc.
The early deficit could not deter the guests. More and they took over the direction, forced BVB on the defensive, but missed the possible equalizer when Marcel Halstenberg (35th) had a chance. In the Leipzig urgent phase, however, the Terzic team struck again. When Can’s shot was deflected from 18 meters away, Blaswich had no chance and was unable to prevent his team from being 2-0 down at the break.
After the restart, the Rose team increased their efforts to get back the goal. André Silva’s shot (48′) just missed the BVB goal. But with all the ball possession, the guests continued to struggle to create chances. On the other hand, BVB rarely managed to free themselves from the pressure by counterattacking in this phase. Nevertheless, Blaswich had to use all his skills in the 67th minute to avert the 0:3 when Reus shot.
Shortly thereafter, BVB goalkeeper Meyer came into focus, who initially made a strong save against Silva, but was powerless at Forsberg’s goal. National player David Raum provided the precise template. However, the dreaded RB final offensive did not materialize, BVB defended with concentration. From the 85th minute, Leipzig had to continue playing outnumbered because the exchange quota was exhausted. Coach Rose was no longer allowed to send a player onto the field for the injured Xaver Schlager. Nevertheless, RB still had two top chances in injury time, but neither substitute Werner nor Forsberg got the ball over the line.
Results, the table and statistics for the Bundesliga are available here in the stern ticker
So it goes on in the Bundesliga
Matchday 23 continues on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with these games:
- Union Berlin vs. 1. FC Cologne
- FSV Mainz 05 vs. TSG Hoffenheim
- Borussia Monchengladbach vs. SC Freiburg
- VfL Bochum vs. FC Schalke 04
- FC Augsburg vs. Werder Bremen
The top game on Saturday evening will be played by VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich from 6:30 p.m. Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Hertha BSC will follow on Sunday, before the game day concludes with VfL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt.
