Borussia Dortmund missed the great opportunity to return early to the circle of European football elite. After the 1-1 (1-1) against FC Sevilla, coach Edin Terzic’s team is in a good starting position, but has not yet been able to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League as hoped. In front of 81,000 spectators in Dortmund, former Munich Tanguy Nianzou (18th) gave the guests the lead on Tuesday evening. Jude Bellingham (35th) equalized.
This means that the fourth-placed Bundesliga player is still challenged in the two remaining group games against Manchester City (October 25) and FC Copenhagen (November 2). Second in the table behind leaders Manchester City (10 points), who made it through to the knockout stages with a dismal 0-0 draw at outsiders Copenhagen (2), Borussia (7) are five points ahead of Sevilla and the Danes.
Sampaoli gave everything on the line
Dortmund made an effort, but the change of coach had a positive impact on the Spaniards. Not only the 1.67 meter tall Jorge Sampaoli gave everything on the sidelines, his team also appeared transformed. Unlike in the first leg under Sampaoli predecessor Julen Lopetegui, the defensive was more stable this time. Even offensively, Seville became dangerous again and again. The Dortmunders got to feel that early and painfully. After a free kick from former Schalke player Ivan Rakitic, Nianzou scored the 1-0 with a header.
Argentinian Sampaoli moved restlessly through and around his coaching zone in “Steffen Baumgart manner”. The 62-year-old even saw a yellow card in the 60th minute. The energy of Lopetegui’s successor transferred to his team, who looked much more determined than just a few days ago. But BVB held against it. Despite the early deficit, Dortmund pressed the guests high and aggressively, which repeatedly led to ball wins.
The compensation was deserved. With help from Thomas Meunier, Bellingham acrobatically shot the ball into the goal from close range. Just before the break, the Englishman almost made it 2-1. However, his long-range shot (41st) rushed just over the Sevilla goal.
Terzic had changed BVB in five positions compared to the acclaimed 2-2 win against Bayern. First-choice goalkeeper Gregor Kobel returned to the starting line-up after a week-long injury break, Anthony Modeste was given preference in the center of the attack over the recently strong Youssoufa Moukoko. In the 64th minute, the 17-year-old replaced the 34-year-old, who had remained inconspicuous.
BVB initially took control of the game. What remained was the well-known pattern: sometimes inexplicable dropouts. Sometimes bad passes were made without opponent pressure, in the 67th minute Borussia was again inattentive after a standard situation. Following a corner, Erik Lamela was free in front of Kobel, who just prevented the almost certain lead goal for the guests.
