Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Werder Bremen
Borussia Dortmund continue to lose ground at the top of the Bundesliga table. After drawing 2-2 away at Eintracht Frankfurt last week, they were once again held to a 2-2 stalemate, this time at home to Werder Bremen.
After clawing their way back from another early deficit, Dortmund were unable to secure all three points as they allowed Bremen to score a second-half equaliser.
Their draw, coupled with another Bayern win, now sees BVB down in seventh, three points adrift of the defending champions, who are back atop the Bundesliga table. While it’s still early in the season, those recent draws against inferior sides certainly haven’t done the BVB’s Bundesliga 2019 odds any good.
Highlights of the game
Dortmund had picked up the unhealthy habit of starting slowly and going behind early during their first three league matches. And that frustrating flaw reared its ugly head once again as Bremen took the lead within just seven minutes.
Davy Klaassen’s lofted through ball was well-controlled by Milot Rashica, who unleashed a thunderous strike which zoomed right past Dortmund keeper Roman Burki.
But like they did when they went behind in those opening matches, Dortmund responded quickly. This time, it took them a mere two minutes to grab their equaliser through Mario Gotze.
Lukasz Piszczek delivered a terrific cross into the six-yard box for the German forward, who produced a picture-perfect header to draw Dortmund level.
The hosts were now in search of the lead and came close to getting it on 18 minutes. Jadon Sancho took a shot from distance, but Bremen keeper Jiri Pavlenka pushed the young Englishman’s effort away for a corner.
Thorgan Hazard then tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area on 29 minutes but his shot sailed high above the bar.
Hazard would eventually be involved in Dortmund’s second goal, but as a provider. The Belgian supplied a pinpoint cross for Marco Reus, and the Dortmund skipper directed a deft header straight into the bottom corner.
Dortmund very doubled their advantage at the stroke of half-time. Gotze’s through ball played in Mahmoud Dahoud, but the Dortmund midfielder’s shot was well-saved by the outstretched foot of Pavlenka.
Dortmund would be left to rue that missed opportunity as Bremen would draw level 10 minutes after half-time. A flick-on header from a corner fell right into the path of full-back Marco Friedl, who simply had to nod the ball into a wide-open goal.
Gotze had another chance to equalise on 63 minutes, but his header this time around was nowhere near as effective.
Dortmund went even closer on 70 minutes. First, Achraf Hakimi’s thumping shot was pushed away by Pavlenka, but only toward Thorgan Hazard. But the Belgian’s effort on the rebound was deflected by a Bremen defender for a corner.
Another Hazard shot took a deflection but was pushed clear by Pavlenka. Substitute Julian Brandt’s shot on the rebound was also blocked.
Dortmund didn’t get much closer than that as Bremen were able to hold on for a well-earned point at Signal Iduna Park.
Key statistics
Unsurprisingly, Dortmund had the edge in terms of the statistics at home. They enjoyed 66 per cent of possession and had 19 shots to 11 (seven to five on target). They also kept up their impressive run of Bundesliga home games with at least two goals to 19 matches.
Hazard was the main attacking threat for Dortmund. He finished with a team-high four shots (one on target) and had an assist for the second-straight game.
Meanwhile, Rashica was impressive for Bremen as he had four total shots, two on target. The 23-year-old Kosovan has been in brilliant form of late and has now recorded four goals and an assist in his last five appearances for club and country. Expect more Bundesliga 2019 highlights to come from the promising youngster.
What’s next?
Dortmund have now drawn each of their last three matches, a stretch which started with their 0-0 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League. They will be looking to put that winless drought to an end when they visit Slavia Praha in midweek.
But the Czechs came just seconds away from defeating high-flying Inter Milan at the San Siro in Matchday 1 and will be no pushovers. Don’t forget to check out the SBOBET odds for all the week’s Champions League games.
As for Werder Bremen, they will pay a visit to Eintracht Frankfurt, who will be coming off their own European date against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League.
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