Loud whistles resounded through the Dortmund stadium, the BVB pros trotted to their disappointed fans with slumped shoulders. The second in the Bundesliga is threatened with the next embarrassing knockout on the international stage.
After the 2: 4 (0: 2) against Glasgow Rangers, it will be very difficult for BVB in the second round of the second leg at the Scottish champions in a week with the entry into the round of 16 of the Europa League. As with the early end in the Champions League, coach Marco Rose’s team failed to prove its international class.
In the 1000th Dortmund competitive game at Signal Iduna Park, Rangers pros James Tavernier (38th penalty), Alfredo Morelos (41st) and John Lundstram (49th) and BVB central defender Dan-Axel Zagadou scored an own goal (54th). ) in front of 10,000 spectators for the deserved defeat of the favored BVB. Jude Bellingham (51st) and Raphaël Guerreiro (82nd) at least ensured that two goals in a week could be enough for extra time.
Strong outsider from Scotland
The Dortmund and the Europa League have not gone really well so far. In three appearances since the reform, they have never gone further than the quarter-finals. According to the BVB self-image, the Champions League should also be played in the knockout round anyway, but the Europa League is “the best competition we have now,” said sports director Michael Zorc on the streaming service RTL +. “Of course we want to do as well as possible.”
BVB initially had a hard time against Rangers. The hard-fighting outsider from Scotland got off to a better start, while Dortmund clearly had trouble holding back. Borna Barisic was close to leading the visitors early on with his degree (10th).
Rose again had to do without the injured Erling Haaland, Thomas Meunier and Marius Wolf as well as the suspended Emre Can. BVB lacked the pace and accuracy on the offensive in the top-class team, Zagadou had the first half-chance with a header that was then too weak (15th).
Hand penalty after video evidence
The guests, coached by former world-class player Giovanni van Bronckhorst, defended skilfully. Only gradually did Dortmund manage to combine into the Rangers’ penalty area. There, BVB captain Marco Reus narrowly missed a good cross from Bellingham (27th).
At this stage referee Clément Turpin gave the hand penalty after video evidence. Zagadou had the ball clearly in hand. Tavernier didn’t miss the chance – and from BVB’s point of view it got even worse. Morelos was there after a Rangers corner at the far post without much resistance from Dortmund. Whistles could already be heard at half-time.
Youthful vigor should initiate the turnaround after the break. With the substitution of youngsters Youssoufa Moukoko (17) and Giovanni Reyna (19), Rose strengthened the offensive. In defense, however, BVB remained far too vulnerable. Lundstram was hardly harassed by the edge of the penalty area when the shot made it 3-0. Bellingham’s answer after Moukoko’s preliminary work came almost directly – but Dortmund’s hopes did not last long. Zagadou deflected a shot from Morelos into his own goal to make it 4-1. Guerreiro’s long-range shot just before the end at least led to the second BVB goal. (dpa)