Match Report
Friendly against Villarreal ends in draw
In the only friendly fixture of their training camp in Bad Ragaz, which was played over lots of 30 minutes, Borussia Dortmund took on Spanish top-flight outfit Villarreal on Tuesday evening. Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen were absent due to their individual fitness programmes. Tom Rothe has departed from the training camp. Borussia Dortmund have released the defender for talks with another club. Almugera Kabar has travelled to Switzerland as his replacement. Pascal Groß was in the starting line-up and made his debut in Black & Yellow.
The 8,500 spectators in Altach, Austria witnessed a lively opening phase in which Ramon Terrats almost put Villarreal into the lead from six metres out in the second minute. A minute later, the ball bounced back into play off the inside of the upright following a shot from Yeremi Pino. BVB immediately launched a counter-attack via Karim Adeyemi and Giovanni Reyna, who teed the ball up for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. His shot from a tight angle flew narrowly wide of the right post. BVB subsequently had a lot of possession but also encountered problems in converting it into scoring opportunities. "Tempo, tempo", demanded goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. It was only after a quarter of an hour that Reyna forced Diego Conde in goal for the Spaniards into a save. Conde only stopped a free-kick from Groß, which was flicked on by the head of Nmecha, with difficulty (26). The first goal of the game was scored by Terrats, who pounced on a backpass from Bensebaini to Kobel and slotted past the goalkeeper to put Villarreal 1-0 ahead (30).
BVB began the second quarter, which started after a five-minute break, without any personnel changes. The vast majority of the play after the change of sides took place in midfield, albeit without scoring chances for either side. Villarreal had the next opportunity after Kobel only managed to parry a shot into the danger zone. However, Santi Comesana fired the follow-up wide of the mark in the 45th minute. But three minutes later, the ball was in the back of the Dortmund net: Comesana set up Denis Suarez in the box who slotted home to make it 2-0 to Villarreal. BVB subsequently created several opportunities: Felix Nmecha tested Conde with a powerful strike (54). Bynoe-Gittens turned on the afterburners and went past two opponents, but Conde was again on hand (58). The goal did finally find the net in second-quarter injury time following a corner from Groß, but Süle's goal did not count. Referee Walter Altmann believed that Sebastien Haller had committed a foul on Conde and the Black & Yellows went into the changing rooms 2-0 down.
Black & Yellow debuts for Groß, Anton and Couto
Coach Nuri Sahin made changes in four positions at the halfway point: Alexander Meyer, new signing Waldemar Anton, Emre Can and Youssoufa Moukoko replaced Kobel, Nico Schlotterbeck, Groß and Haller. BVB looked slightly better in the attacking department and reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 72nd minute. Bynoe-Gittens shook off his marker with a burst of pace on the edge of the box and fired home a lovely shot from a central position. Moukoko almost scored the equaliser six minutes later, but Conde extended a leg at the near post. BVB failed to see through further good moves in the opposition half with enough purpose. The Spaniards once again got themselves in front of the Dortmund goal shortly before the end of the third quarter, but Meyer initially cleared behind for a corner and then dived in time following the ensuing set-piece (88).
After a five-minute break, BVB grew even stronger offensively in the final quarter. A shot from substitute Julien Duranville was initially blocked at the back post (98), then fellow substitute Sabitzer struck a free-kick from 18 metres out too high (104). The duo then teamed up successfully three minutes later when Sabitzer got his foot to a Duranville shot from a narrow angle and scored to equalise deservedly at 2-2. Duranville almost scored the winning goal, but the offside flag was raised as he made his solo run (119).
The training camp in Bad Ragaz ends on Friday. As part of the season opening event at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK on Saturday (10/08), the BVB first team will go up against English top-flight outfit Aston Villa in their final pre-season friendly (live on BVB TV and Sky).
BVB: Kobel (Meyer, 61) – Ryerson (Couto, 91), Süle (Mane, 91), Schlotterbeck (Anton, 61), Bensebaini (Kabar, 76) – Nmecha (Özcan, 76), Groß (Can, 61) – Adeyemi (Campbell, 76; Brunner, 112), Reyna (Sabitzer, 76), Bynoe-Gittens (Duranville, 76) – Haller (Moukoko, 61)
Goals: 0-1 Terrats (30), 0-2 Denis Suarez (48), 1-2 Bynoe-Gittens (72), 2-2 Sabitzer (107)
Christina Reinke
