GRAMThe smoke that the Borussia Dortmund fans sent through the Alte Försterei looked like tennis balls. Of course, his team's match at 1. FC Union Berlin was interrupted, but a gigantic pause was not necessary, as was the case during the league-wide protest against the German football league and the influx of investors. After a few minutes, the fog dissipated and with each stripe the outlines of two teams that really did not want to catch fire this season became more visible.
What they both have in common is that they promised each other more, each in their own way. Very few expected a relegation battle at 1. FC Union last summer. It is precisely in this atmosphere that the Berliners remain faithful after the 0-2 defeat against BVB, which had to adapt its objective to qualifying for the Champions League instead of the championship. In this sense, Dortmund is still in a good position, in fourth place, and the victory in Berlin is even more worth it, because its closest rival, RB Leipzig, also scored points in Bochum.
The most recent results, such as the 2:3 against Hoffenheim, once again raised doubts in BVB and those around it. The team and especially coach Edin Terzic, who is accused of not having developed the right ideas about how this talented team should play football. This was not entirely clear in Berlin either; In the end, only the result counted. “We showed a good reaction in a difficult place. It is not easy to win here in front of these fans,” said Ian Maatsen.
Many things get stuck in the subjunctive.
Union was the best team for a long time, especially the first half hour belonged to the Berliners. Lucas Tousart failed after a good assist from Kevin Volland (6th). Dortmund tried to control the match, but Unión started aggressively and determinedly. Time and time again, at least one game in Berlin disrupted the opponent's ball circulation, which inevitably led to good moments.
Benedict Hollerbach only had to finish faster once, Tousart only had to take a different path; It could have been really dangerous. But many things got stuck in the subjunctive and there was often a lack of precision or lack of correct decision. There was always something that prevented the really big scoring opportunities from arising. “We ran the ball too much instead of looking for depth,” Union coach Nenad Bjelica said.
The Union is competitive again, but has not yet fully recovered. The traumatic experiences of the autumn, when we lost match after match and eventually also the successful coach Urs Fischer, still have an impact from time to time. Especially if the matches don't go well from Berlin's point of view.
In the style of a great goalkeeper
Fischer's successor, Nenad Bjelica, plays with a different style. More determined forward with fewer long balls. The changes allowed the Union to at least get out of the relegation spots. Despite the defeat, the advantage over the relegation place is eight points. The lead could have been increased, but the constant running consumed energy and so BVB entered the match better after about half an hour.
Unión won the ball less and less and the race became a chase. After a corner kick, Nico Schlotterbeck almost went ahead, but Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow saved like a great goalkeeper. Schlotterbeck once played for 1 FC Union like his brother Keven. That was in the 2020/21 season. Shortly after his missed opportunity, Schlotterbeck was able to celebrate the lead. Karim Adeyemi entered the box from outside and his well-placed shot bounced into the goal with the help of the bottom edge of the crossbar. It was Adeyemi's first goal of the season.
The result of the break was not entirely undeserved. “We had good opportunities in front of goal, where Rönnow made an excellent save. So we didn't take the lead out of nowhere,” said Dortmund coach Terzic.
The second half can be summarized in a few key moments. One of them was, without a doubt, the spectacular save by Alexander Meyer, who once again represented the injured Gregor Kobel, against Kevin Volland (56th). The goalkeeper barely deflected the striker's shot about ten meters over the crossbar.
In the final phase it was Meyer who saved Dortmund again, this time against Yorbe Vertessen. Almost in return, Ian Maatsen attacked Josip Juranovic very hard. The Berliner remained lying on the halfway line, the Dortmund player ran alone towards the opponent's goal and deliberately pushed to make it 0-2.
The place was then checked and the impact remained. The crowd was angry, Union coach Bjelica saw it differently. “You can leave it like that, but you can also call a foul. It was a 50:50 situation. The referee has made a decision and we have to accept it,” he stated. This also applied to the final result.