Status: 04/10/2021 9:02 p.m.
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Borussia Dortmund has kept its minimal chance of re-qualifying for the Champions League – thanks to his 19-year-old talent Ansgar Knauff.
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The Revierklub prevailed 3-2 (0-1) at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening (April 10th, 2021). With six outstanding games in the Bundesliga, BVB remains seven points behind fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jude Bellingham (47th minute), Marco Reus (52nd) and Knauff (80th) scored for Dortmund. Sasa Kalajdzic (17th) and Daniel Didavi (78th) scored the goals for newly promoted Stuttgart, who made a significant contribution to a respectable game.
Fixed part of the professionals
There was good news for Knauff even before the game. The second BVB team, for whom he played mainly this season, won 4-1 at Borussia Mönchengladbach II and thus maintained their lead over Rot-Weiss Essen. The German champions from 1955 would like to go back to professional football, but seem to be stuck in the regional league. Knauff, who scored seven goals this season for the second team and provided six assists, is complicit.
In the coming weeks, the league leaders will probably have to do without Knauff, because he is now an integral part of the professional squad. Coach Edin Terzic had already said that after he ordered Knauff into the starting line-up in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Manchester City.
Proof of confidence in Manchester
That was an enormous vote of confidence, because much more experienced and expensive people like Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard just sat on the bench.
Knauff, whose strengths are his speed and assertiveness in direct duels, was again preferred to this duo in Stuttgart. In the 67th minute he came for the ailing Reus. A good ten minutes later he decided the game with his first Bundesliga goal.
“That was an incredible week for me,” said Knauff on “Sky”, “I came in and really wanted to win the game. I’m just happy that it worked out.”
Hummels with stomach cramps
Borussia was initially not put off by the deficit by Kalajdzic’s 14th goal of the season or by the loss of Mats Hummels. The defense chief had to be replaced during the break due to stomach cramps. Then the tide turned: Bellingham with his first Bundesliga goal and captain Reus with his first league goal since December made Borussia cheer. But Reus also limped into the cabin after being substituted (67th).
Daniel Didavi equalized again (78th) before Knauff struck and made the day perfect for himself.
BVB now challenged in the Champions League
VfB Stuttgart will play against 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday (April 17th, 2021). Borussia Dortmund will face Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday before. In the Bundesliga, BVB will face Werder Bremen on Sunday.
Those: sportschau.de
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