The Borussia U23s drew 0-0 with Belgian second-tier side Lommel SK in a friendly match on the penultimate day of their training camp in Austria. The first half was mostly controlled by the Belgians, but after the break BVB dictated play and had several chances to win the match.

The Black & Yellows had been put through their paces in a training session in Brixen im Thale on Thursday morning. At 18:00 CET, they were all set to face Lommel SK in Salzburg. Awaiting them were a tidy footballing side who also present a robust physical challenge. Both teams started the match with one objective in mind: try to create chances right from the first kick of the ball. The Belgians proved more successful in the first half. Lommel enjoyed more possession, and fashioned several good opportunities to score the opening goal. The Black & Yellows’ best chance before the break came in the 43rd minute, as Michael Eberwein played in Falko Michel, who was unable to finish past the keeper. 

Unsurprisingly, coach Jan Zimmermann used the half-time break to make four changes. From then on, BVB appeared more composed, had more possession and also created more chances. Lion Semic, who had come on as a substitute, repeatedly made things happen on the right side. In midfield, BVB were increasingly coming out on top in the tackles. 

In the closing stages, Borussia showed that they’ve already built up the fitness required to keep up the pace for the full 90 minutes. In the 86th minute, Lion Semic had a sight of goal, but his effort rattled the crossbar. Two minutes before the final whistle, BVB had a similar opportunity: Semic slipped in Franz Roggow, also a substitute, who squared to Ayman Azhil, but his shot was blocked at the last second. 

BVB thus left the pitch without a goal to their name, but also without having conceded one. “We wanted to win. That didn’t work out. We have to take our chances,” said Dortmund coach Jan Zimmermann directly after the final whistle. Above all he will be happy that none of his players picked up an injury. Captain Franz Pfanne, who directed the midfield for 90 minutes, drew a positive conclusion from the training camp: “I have rarely experienced such cohesiveness in the U23s.”

BVB U23: Ostrzinski (46, Estevao) – Göbel, Suver, Pudel, Blank (46, Irorere) – Eberwein, Michel, Pfanne – Elongo-Yombo (46, Semic), Tattermusch (72, Roggow), Butler (46, Azhil)