BVB fail to see through 2-0 advantage

Borussia Dortmund have been held to a 2-2 (2-0) draw by promoted 1. FC Heidenheim in the opening game of Bundesliga Matchday 3.

Boris Rupert reporting

The 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK – including the promoted club’s 4,000 away supporters – saw a first half in which BVB set the tone in all respects and surged into an early 2-0 lead: Brandt hammered the ball in underneath the crossbar in the seventh minute, before Can added another from the spot (15). It was a different story entirely after the break, with Heidenheim growing increasingly stronger and picking up a deserved point thanks to goals by Eren Dinkci (61) and Tim Kleindienst (pen., 82).

The scenario:
The two teams were meeting in a competitive game for the first time. BVB had started the season with four points (1-0 at home to Köln, 1-1 in Bochum), while Heidenheim were still pointless following good performances but unlucky results in Wolfsburg (2-0 defeat) and at home to Hoffenheim (3-2 loss after 2-0 lead).

Personnel matters:
All the players were fit with the exception of Julien Duranville, Thomas Meunier (both fitness training) and Giovanni Reyna (lack of fitness). Having signed 24 hours ago, Niclas Füllkrug was immediately included in the matchday squad but joined Mats Hummels and Felix Nmecha on the bench. Niklas Süle and Karim Adeyemi started instead.

Tactics:
As they did last time out in Bochum and almost always have done throughout 2023, the Black & Yellows lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt occupied the attacking half-positions in the Dortmund midfield; for the first time this season, the attacking line-up was the same as in the successful second half of last season: Donyell Malen, Sébastien Haller and Karim Adeyemi. BVB consistently stretched the opposition and then played the ball in behind. Heidenheim lined up in a 4-4-1-1 system. In front of the two banks of four, Adrian Beck and Tim Kleindienst disrupted Dortmund’s build-up play.

The match & analysis:
BVB approached the match with great intensity, winning not only the clear majority of the challenges but convincing with their passing sharpness and changes of rhythm too. Heidenheim were almost exclusively on defensive duty but tried to get forward quickly after winning possession of the ball back – mostly down the left flank via Jan-Niklas Beste.

Borussia were quickly rewarded for their lively and straightforward style of play. Mainka fired a cleared Malen cross against the tucked-in arm of Emre Can. The ball fell to Brandt, who struck a left-footed shot on the turn from a centre-right position in the box and fired the ball in under the bar for 1-0 (7). Brandt was in the thick of the action eight minutes later. Upon receiving Bensebaini’s pass, he attempted to play the ball into the box from the left. Lennard Maloney got in the way – with an outstretched arm. Referee Tobias Reichel watched the incident on the monitor and awarded a penalty, which Can confidently slotted in the bottom left corner (15).

BVB created numerous chances to add to their lead in the period that followed. Bensebaini put Sabitzer clean through on keeper Müller, who thwarted the danger with his foot (19). After quick link-up play via Malen and Wolf, Sabitzer fired the ball narrowly wide of the goal (26). Malen failed to beat the goalie from a tight angle (28) and shot sharply from 17 metres out right before the break, only for the ball to sail narrowly over (43). Borussia Dortmund produced the best half of the still-young season and were superior in all areas (10-3 shots, 64% possession, 58% challenges won).

The Black & Yellows did not start the second period as consistently as the first, allowing the visitors space and gifting them a gilt-edged opportunity: Kobel initially made a strong save to deny a Maloney header from a Beste free-kick, then Beck headed the rebound onto the left upright and Mainka headed the second rebound against Pieringer’s arm. It then went into the net, but the goal was disallowed (52). Malen had the chance to make it 3-0 after being played in by Brandt at the other end, but he could not get the ball past Müller and Sabitzer missed on the follow-up (56).

By the hour mark, Heidenheim were fully back in the game not only optically but in terms of the scoreline too. Borussia gave too many balls away carelessly, one of which was intercepted by Theuerkauf and crossed into the middle from the left. Dinkci controlled the ball well and slotted it into the bottom right corner for 2-1. No chance for Kobel. Only 60 seconds later, BVB could have re-established the two-goal margin. But Malen was again denied by the foot of goalkeeper Müller. Brandt and Sabitzer had set this big opportunity up.

Then came the 76th minute. Following a cleared set-piece, the ball was played back into the Dortmund penalty area. Haller lost control of the ball after touching it down and then held the chasing Beste – penalty. The decision was initially overturned, with the video assistant having spotted an offside. But before BVB could take the free-kick, the video assistant got in touch again. The incident was deemed to be a “new phase of play” and the decision to award a penalty was upheld, with Kleindienst converting in the 82nd minute.

BVB – with Füllkrug on for Haller – had lost their way and ran themselves into trouble time and time again, while Heidenheim pressed high, continued to disrupt early and survived the 12 minutes of stoppage time, during which Felix Nmecha struck the bar in the 100th minute.

Outlook:
Next up is the first international break. League action will resume in two weeks. Then – on Saturday 16 September – Borussia Dortmund will be away to Sportclub Freiburg.

Teams & goals

Bundesliga Matchday 3

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 2-2 (2-0) 1. FC HEIDENHEIM

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Wolf, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Can – Brandt, Sabitzer (Moukoko, 89) – Malen, Haller (Füllkrug, 78), Adeyemi (Nmecha, 64)
1. FC Heidenheim: Müller – Traoré, Mainka, Siersleben, Theuerkauf – Dinkci (Pick, 90), Maloney, Thomalla (Pieringer, 46), Beste (Sessa, 90+11) – Beck (Dovedan, 62) – Kleindienst
Substitutes: Meyer, Özcan, Reus, Hummels, Ryerson, Bynoe-Gittens – Eicher, Schöppner, Gimber, Schimmer, Keller
Goals: 1-0 Brandt (Can, 7), 2-0 Can (penalty for Maloney handball, 15), 2-1 Dinkci (Theuerkauf, 61), 2-2 Kleindienst (penalty for a foul by Haller on Beste, 82)
Corners: 3-6 (1-3 at half-time), chance ratio: 9-4 (6-0)
Referee: Reichel (Sindelfingen), yellow cards: Bensebaini, Haller, Can – Dinkci, Beste, Pieringer
Attendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: dry, 16 degrees