Champions League: Small step for crisis-BVB: victory in Lisbon

After his first victory as a Dortmund coach, Niko Kovac clapped satisfied with his players. The BVB, which has been struck for months, won the playoff first leg in the Champions League at Sporting Lisbon 3-0 (0-0) and has a good chance of moving into the next round. The Dortmund took a little step out of their severe meaning crisis and thus towards the Champions League round of 16.

After a clear increase in performance in the second round, Serhou Guirassy (60th minute), Pascal Groß (68th) and Karim Adeyemi (82nd) ​​ensured the deserved victory of the team of coach Kovac. For the successor to Nuri Sahin it was the first victory as a BVB coach, and there was a 1-2 against Stuttgart for him on Saturday in the Bundesliga. The second leg against Lisbon will take place in Dortmund next week.

“That was important,” said national player. “In a difficult game in the Champions League, in the first half you noticed that we are not brimming with confidence. But after the break we played a very decent game,” said Groß at Amazon Prime.

After a little liberation for Borussia, it initially did not look at all because of an courage and ideasless appearance before the break. At BVB, winter newcomer Daniel Svensson moved to the starting eleven for the first time, as his teammates also revealed the Swedish left-back weaknesses. In the 15th minute, for example, the defense network around the 22-year-old did not really attack the Uruguayer Maxi Araújo, whose shot from almost 20 meters only went to the crossbar.

Uncertainty with both teams

Otherwise, the Dortmund started with almost such starting eleven as in the last 1: 2 against VfB Stuttgart – and the team was noticeable in almost every scene, especially in the first round. On the offensive, BVB often acted too hesitantly and despondent in the passing game, on the defensive Svensson and Co.

But because Sporting also appeared anything but in top shape, an extremely tough game developed. The Swedish top scorer of the Portuguese, Viktor Gyökeres, was only slightly struck on the bench. If Sporting got dangerous, only if Dortmund defended too hesitantly. Just like the early crossbar of Araújo.

Clear performance increase after the break

It was time for the BVB professionals at least get some trust in themselves and their skills. Shortly before the break, a shot from Jamie Gitten (38th) went just by after a nice dribbling. In the minutes later, the game control shifted towards BVB, but further the accuracy of the last pass was missing.

Of course, this also recognized Kovac, who in his second game apparently found the right words at halftime as a BVB coach. The Dortmunders did not come from the break as if transformed, but much more determined. They now pressed the also unsettled Portuguese higher and more aggressive – and that paid off.

After a strong shelf by Guirassy, ​​Adeyemi initially failed from a short distance from the strongly parrying sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva. Shortly afterwards, the striker himself did better. A long flank from Julian Brandt sailed into the penalty area, where Guirassy headed the tour against Silva’s direction. A few minutes later, BVB added. This time, Guirassy delivered the template that his flank promoted Groß from a short distance with his knee into the goal.

Sporting, on the other hand, hardly got anything in line after the change of sides. Gyökeres came into play in the 59th minute, but the fast striker could hardly set any accents. Instead, Adeyemi made the 3-0 shortly before the end.