Match Report
BVB win 4-2 and go top thanks to Adeyemi brace
Boris Rupert reporting
The 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK saw a single-minded BVB, who had already taken a 2-0 lead by the 16th minute thanks to goals from Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi. Marvin Pieringer pulled a goal back in the 39th minute but it barely took 120 seconds to respond, Adeyemi netting his second goal to make it 3-1 at half-time. BVB came close to scoring a fourth goal on several occasions after the break but instead conceded a second goal from the penalty spot and the game became open again with the score at 3-2 with a quarter of an hour left. But Emre Can converted a penalty awarded for handball in stoppage time to complete the 4-2 win.
The scenario:
1. FC Heidenheim had won each of their previous five competitive matches across all competitions: two in the league and two in Conference League qualification, plus one in the cup. Their most recent away defeat had come six months earlier. Including last season, BVB had won three consecutive matches on home turf.
Personnel matters:
Nico Schlotterbeck was serving a red card suspension, while Giovanni Reyna missed out with a muscle injury. All first-team players were otherwise available, including Serhou Guirassy, who was one of five changes to the starting line-up compared to the 0-0 draw in Bremen. Malen, Adeyemi, Nmecha and Bensebaini also came into the team, replacing Beier, Gittens, Sabitzer, Can (all bench) and Schlotterbeck (suspended). Brandt captained the team.
Tactics:
The only two Bundesliga clubs yet to concede a goal both lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation but with significantly different interpretations. During build-up play, Ryerson moved forward from the right-back position into midfield, with Bensebaini doing the same on the left flank at times. Then Groß dropped back alongside the two central defenders in a centre-left position, thus turning a 4-2-3-1 system into a 3-1-5-1. Without possession, the Black & Yellows defended in a 4-4-2 formation with Brandt alongside Guirassy. Heidenheim withdrew deep into their own half but played an intense pressing game and looked to switch the play after winning possession of the ball back.
The match & analysis:
BVB impressed with their intelligent use of space and repeatedly found passing options despite the opposition's compactness. The ball was moved fluidly. The first sign of danger came after three and a half minutes when Adeyemi broke through down the left, but FCH keeper Müller gathered the cross. Groß had a go from 18 metres in the sixth minute – only for the ball to sail narrowly wide of the left upright.
Dortmund were considerably superior, keeping the ball and their opponents on the move. Adeyemi, who had been set in motion by Groß, played it from a centre-left position to Malen in the middle, who immediately shot from 16 metres. Keeper Müller's line of sight was obscured and his attempted intervention with his foot deflected the ball onto the underside of the bar. Borussia led 1-0 after exactly 11 minutes and added a second goal only six minutes later. Ryerson intercepted a pass from Wanner in his own half and immediately fed Malen in the centre circle, who carried it forward and picked out Brandt. He played it left to Adeyemi, who slotted into the far corner from around eight metres (17). It was top-class counter-attacking football.
Dortmund had everything under control but then had their first moment of carelessness following a crossed free-kick by the visitors, though the unmarked Pieringer's header lacked placement and did not trouble Kobel (36). Three minutes later right-back Traoré found himself under no opposition pressure and delivered a long cross to Pieringer, who headed home totally unimpeded to pull it back to 2-1. But BVB hit back straightaway. Ryerson was again the starting point. This time he carried the ball to level with the penalty area and played it sharply into the middle. Guirassy intelligently let the ball run through, taking an opponent out of the game, and Adeyemi swept home from 11 metres.
The fluid play continued. BVB used the spaces between the Heidenheim defence and midfield. Having been played in by Guirassy, Adeyemi had the opportunity to score his third goal in the 59th minute but squared the ball in the box to Guirassy, who was stopped by two opposing players. The new No. 9 was sought out remarkably often and linked up the play remarkably well.
Scienza had a double opportunity to pull another goal back in the 64th minute, but both shots from around 18 metres out were blocked – the second of them by Sabitzer, who had just come off the bench and scored himself two minutes later, but the ball was deemed to have hit Groß not only on the chest but also on the upper arm during the build-up to the goal. Shortly afterwards, Guirassy's scissor kick was kept out by Müller and a Heidenheim player cleared Bensebaini's header just in front of the line following the ensuing corner.
Rather than 4-1, it was 3-2. Süle's penalty-box challenge on Kaufmann, whom he caught on the foot, led to a spot-kick that Breunig slotted home (74). Beier's shot in the 90th minute was turned behind for a corner., which led to a Süle shot that went narrowly wide. But Traoré's hands were also used. The next spot-kick was awarded, which Can confidently converted (90+3).
Outlook:
The first "English week" is coming up: Borussia Dortmund will kick off the league phase of the UEFA Champions League away to Belgian champions FC Brugge on Wednesday (kick-off 21:00 CEST), before taking on vice champions VfB Stuttgart in the top match next Sunday (kick-off 17:30 CEST).
Teams & goals
Bundesliga Matchday 3
BORUSSIA DORTMUND 4-2 (3-1) 1. FC HEIDENHEIM
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Ryerson, Anton, Süle, Bensebaini (Couto, 72) – Nmecha, Groß – Adeyemi (Gittens, 78), Brandt (Can, 78), Malen (Sabitzer, 59) – Guirassy (Beier, 72)
1. FC Heidenheim: Müller – Traoré, Mainka, Gimber, Föhrenbach – Schöppner, Maloney (Honsak, 86) – Beck (Conteh, 46), Wanner (Breunig, 68), Scienza (Dorsch, 68) – Pieringer (Kaufmann, 68)
Substitutes: Meyer, Duranville, Wätjen, Kabar – Eicher, Busch, Siersleben, Kerber
Goals: 1-0 Malen (Adeyemi, 11), 2-0 Adeyemi (Brandt, 17), 2-1 Pieringer (Traoré, 39), 3-1 Adeyemi (Ryerson, 41), 3-2 Breunig (penalty for foul on Kaufmann by Süle, 74), 4-2 Can (penalty for Traoré handball, 90)
Corners: 8-4 (1-2 at half-time), chance ratio: 9-4 (5-2)
Referee: Schröder (Hanover), yellow cards: Gittens, Couto – Wanner, Kaufmann
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: dry, 13 degrees