Borussia Dortmund have reached the last 16! In the second round proper of the DFB-Pokal, BVB beat TSG Hoffenheim 1-0 (1-0) at a sold-out IDUNA PARK SIGNAL.

Boris Rupert reporting

Some 81,365 spectators enjoyed a fast-paced game with plenty of drama in the penalty area at both ends. Dortmund grew stronger as the game wore on and deservedly took the lead with their 14th shot of the game in the 43rd minute, Marco Reus getting his name on the scoresheet. BVB missed chances to add another goal both before and after Reus’ opener and shut up shop in the last half hour to bring the narrow lead safely over the finish line for the victory.

The scenario:  
It was the third meeting of the two clubs in this competition, with all three games being played on the Strobelallee and the previous two going to Dortmund (3-2 (aet.) and 3-1). The Black and Yellows had taken all three points in each of the last five meetings between the sides in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim had won all six of their away games across all competitions this season.

Personnel matters:   
Except for Captain Emre Can (bruised thigh), Edin Terzic had his full squad at his disposal – including Gregor Kobel and Mats Hummels, who had both been taken off injured in the 3-3 draw in Frankfurt. Just three days after the intense league game on the Main, the BVB head coach made five changes to his starting eleven, with Süle, Ryerson, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens and Moukoko replacing Hummels, Bensebaini, Sabitzer, Malen and Füllkrug, who all dropped to the bench. BVB’s starting line-up had the youngest average age since February.

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Tactics:   
It was the most attacking starting line-up of the season, with five attackers operating in a 4-3-3 formation – the same system used in Newcastle. Özcan sat as the lone defensive midfielder in front of the back four, with constant interplay between Reyna, Reus and Brandt operating in the space behind the strikers. Hoffenheim lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Berisha or Weghorst up front, with Beier alone staying forward when BVB had the ball. When TSG had possession, their left and right-sided midfielders Bülter and Bebou pushed forward, with Bebou being particularly adventurous down the right wing. At first, the away side gave the hosts little space to operate up front, keeping the space between their lines tight.

The match & analysis:
The game began with a double chance for Hoffenheim. There were just two minutes on the referee’s watch when Beier’s cross slid through to Bebou, but Kobel made a strong save to deny him from ten metres out. The rebound landed at the feet of Berisha, but Schlotterbeck was back on the line to prevent the early deficit. Almost immediately, Reus had a chance at the other end, getting on the end of a corner at the far post, but his first-time strike flew just past the left post.

Hoffenheim were well in the game, and Stach had the next dangerous chance in the 16th minute, but after that, the Black and Yellows grew into the game. Reus’ shot in the 21st minute was blocked by Bülter. Bynoe-Gittens, who repeatedly found gaps down the left wing, fired just past the left post after an audacious backheel in the 25th minute. There were a number of well-worked attacks, with BVB clearly getting the upper hand, racking up 13 shots to Hoffenheim’s four with 40 minutes played.

It was the 14th shot that finally hit the mark. Brandt opened up the game, switching play from the inside-right to the left touchline. Bynoe-Gittens set off down the wing and was found by Reyna, and the BVB youngster cut the ball back from the goal line to find Reus in the box, who curled home to give Dortmund a 1-0 lead on 43 minutes. It was already a seventh shot of the game by the oldest player on the pitch.

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The second half began with a strong switch of play by Reyna, finding Bynoe-Gittens on the left wing, who was not challenged and took aim from the inside-left of the box, missing the target by just a few centimetres in the 48th minute. Two minutes later, BVB had another chance, again coming down the left, and once again involving Bynoe-Gittens, who cut the ball back to Moukoko, but Baumann got his fingertips to the ball and tipped the shot around the post.

After that, however, BVB seemed to lose their way at times. Hoffenheim also offered more of a threat going forward again, as exemplified by a Beier volley in the 57th minute, which, however, sailed well wide of the target. Terzic felt that changes were needed, bringing off the impressive Bynoe-Gitten and Reyna, as well as Wolf, who had picked up a knock. Bensebaini, Malen and Nmecha came on in their place. Malen’s shot that hit the side-netting in the 86th minute was the first dangerous chance for a long time and the last before the final whistle.

Outlook:  
The draw for the round of 16 will take place on Sunday at around 15:50 CET, during the half-time break in the big match in the women’s Bundesliga between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg, and will take place at the German Football Museum in Dortmund as usual. The ties will be played on 5/6 December. Next up for BVB are three big matches, starting with the home game against Bayern Munich on Saturday (kick-off: 18:30 CET), before they take on Newcastle United next Tuesday (kick-off: 18:45 CET) and an away trip to face VfB Stuttgart on Saturday 11 November (kick-off: 15:30 CET).

Teams & goals

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DFB-Pokal, 2nd round proper
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – TSG HOFFENHEIM 1-0 (1-0)
Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Wolf (Bensebaini, 64), Süle, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson – Özcan – Reus (Sabitzer, 82), Brandt – Reyna (Nmecha, 70), Moukoko, Bynoe-Gittens (Malen, 64)
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Vogt, Brooks, Akpoguma (Kabak, 64) – Bebou, Prömel, Stach, Bülter (Bischof, 88) – Berisha (Conté, 64) – Weghorst, Beier
Bench: Meyer, Haller, Füllkrug, Hummels, Adeyemi – Philipp, Szalai, Becker, Justvan, Samassekou
Goal: 1-0 Reus (43, Bynoe-Gittens)
Corners: 8-3 (half-time 6-2), Chances: 8-4 (5-3)
Referee: Osmers (Hanover), Red card (second yellow): Kabak (90+4, persistent infringement), Yellow cards: Schlotterbeck – Weghorst
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), Weather: light rain, 12 degrees