In the end, the mood was really good again. The players beamed, the fans celebrated. The past two weeks have done the self-confidence of Borussia. After two home wins in league and cup against league leaders Mönchengladbach BVB has also the VfL Wolfsburg with a 3: 0 (0: 0) success taught his first Bundesliga defeat of the current season. Suddenly, BVB is even in second place on the table.
It's the small steps that encourage you.
Also in this game, the Borussia did long difficult. Much was reminiscent of the poor performance in the flattering Derby draw against Schalke or the recent defeat in the Champions League at Inter Milan.
In the first half of the season, BVB would not have come after Lukas Nmecha, who only hit the crossbar in the 22nd minute, or Jeffrey Bruma, who narrowly missed the shot from close range just before half-time (45 + 5) can complain. In the second half, the Borussia caught.
"After the 1: 0 then again fun and ease were in it," said midfielder Julian Weigl. Sporting director Michael Zorc smugly remarked: "In the end, we had almost the joy of playing." Coach Lucien Favre said: "That was nice to see."
Favre, who had recently been criticized for his lack of emotionality, intervened with unusual gestures on his 62nd birthday. He had to be asked several times to stay in the coaching zone. He conducted and animated almost non-stop. After the game, he stopped by the reporters before going to the cabin and answered questions. Later he said goodbye with a handshake, that too was new.
Improvements in all parts of the team
Perhaps it is a sign that the tension in Dortmund so slowly something loosens. Julian Brandt drew with two goals against Gladbach from deep, against Wolfsburg Thorgan Hazard scored his first goal (52.) in the shirt of BVB, also made an assist for the goal by Raphaël Guerreiro (58.). Mario Götze also scored again (88.) after Brandt had brought out a penalty with a shot against Bruma's hand.
Bernd Thissen / DPA
The BVB pros celebrate Thorgan Hazard's first goal (hidden) for the new employer
With Paco Alcácer the only center forward in the squad is ready for action again, Jadon Sancho and Axel Witsel had a break against VfL, which they could use after the impressions of recent weeks well. BVB have been without a clean sheet in the league for three matches, especially as Marwin Hitz has done very well to replace Roman Bürki and Mats Hummels is the hoped-for stability factor on the defensive.
The self-appointed championship candidate has a healthy foundation again. Dortmund continues to play more pragmatic than spectacular football, but with fewer mistakes and forward, at least in phases determined. This is a football that Favre wants, not just on his birthday. "A glass of red wine", so the coach, he wants to treat himself on the evening of his day of honor, then the concentration already applies to the next game.
Worried about Reus
On Tuesday, BVB will play in the Champions League against Inter Milan. "We have to continue to rotate," said Favre. Against Wolfsburg, there had been five changes in the starting eleven. That neither Witsel nor Thomas Delaney were on the pitch from the start was also a premiere under Favre. It was not an ingenious move of the coach to put Mahmoud Dahoud and Weigl in the defensive midfield. But it did not go wrong.
The coach has to worry more about his star Marco Reus. In the cup, the most important offensive player of BVB had paused because of muscular problems, against Wolfsburg, the 30-year-old injured again. After a treatment on the sidelines after a good quarter of an hour, he continued to play first, in the 28th Minute, he had to be replaced. Reus left the field without help, a diagnosis is still pending.
It is to be feared that the BVB without Reus to the most important game of the coming weeks against Inter must compete. The outcome should decide on the entry into the knockout stages of the Champions League. But there is also good news: The match takes place in Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund - VfL Wolfsburg 3: 0 (0: 0)
1: 0 hazard (52.)
2: 0 Guerreiro (58.)
3: 0 Götze (88th, hand penalty)
Dortmund: Hitz - Piszczek, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro - Weigl, Dahoud (70th Witsel), Hakimi, Reus (28th idol), Hazard - Brandt (89th, Alcácer)
Wolfsburg: Pervan - Tisserand (79th Brekalo), Bruma, Brooks - William, Guilavogui, Arnold, Roussillon (89th Steffen), João Victor, Nmecha (66th Klaus) - Weghörst
Referee: Welz
Yellow cards: Weigl / Brooks, Nmecha, Tisserand
Spectators: 80,200
