Borussia Dortmund, in their final pre-season game of the season, edged past Sparta Rotterdam, as the Dutch side nearly came back from a 2-0 deficit. The game marked the return of club captain, Marco Reus, as well as new signing Reinier Jesus’ first game for the black and yellows.
Lucien Favre decided to revert to the back three system after successive disappointing results, using the back four against Paderborn and Vfl Bochum last time around.
In spite of being without 15 International players, including the likes of Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, BVB did well to win their last game of the pre-season.
Dortmund started the game well, with Reus coming close twice within the first 20 minutes. The first chance came through a direct free-kick, which the opposition’s keeper managed to tip over the bar. The second opportunity was far easier for Reus, however, Sparta’s backline did well to block his close-range shot.
The sides went into half-time with a 0-0 scoreline. Dortmund enjoyed most of the possession in both halves and could finally make use of it in the 63rd minute. It just had to be Reus. The skippers’ mazy run into the box split Rotterdam’s defence, followed by which Reus caught out the goalkeeper at his near post. After nearly 7 months out, his goal would give him great confidence going into the 2020/21 season.
Just three minutes later, one of Dortmund’s best players in pre-season, Immanuel Pherai, doubled our lead. Pherai slid in near the goal-line to tap in Marius Wolf’s low cross.
Rotterdam clawed their way back into the game in the 80th minute, through a lightning-quick counter-attack which BVB failed to cope with. Dortmund managed the last 10 minutes well and took home the victory.
The club’s first competitive fixture of the season will be against MSV Duisburg on the 14th of September in the DFB-Pokal first round. The two sides came up against each other during pre-season, with Dortmund coming out 5-1 winners.
BVB’s Bundesliga campaign for 2020/21 will commence on the 19/09/20 against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Lineup
Hitz – Piszczek (46, Hippe), Hummels, Can – Passlack, Reyna (83, Collins), Dahoud (87 Hober), Brandt (64 Pherai), Wolf – Reinier (46, Duman), Reus (70 Gürpüz).
