3-2 from 0-2 down – BVB’s second-half onslaught against HSV

3-2 from 0-2 down – BVB’s second-half onslaught against HSV Personnel matters With the exception of captain Emre Can and young prospect Filippo Mane, all the first-team players were available. The starting XI was the same as for the match against Augsburg a week ago (2-0). The match Borussia lined up in a 3-3-2-2 formation once again and had the chance to take an early lead when Maxi Beier won the ball from Nicolai Remberg, left Luka Vuskovic in his wake and then had only Daniel Heuer Fernandes to beat, but the goalkeeper made a strong save with his foot to keep the ball out (7).

BVB subsequently put HSV under pressure with “controlled attacking play” but were neither forceful nor creative enough to create further chances. Instead, Daniel Svensson misjudged the ball after a headed flick on by Ransford Königsdörffer. William Mikelbrencis then sprinted down the right into the box and squared the ball to Philip Otele, who slotted home to make it 0-1 (19).

Shortly afterwards, Felix Nmecha made a brave tackle to thwart an HSV counter attack (22), Gregor Kobel saved from Königsdörffer (24), and when the ball found the net again following the resulting corner, only Königsdörffer being offside spared BVB from going 0-2 down (25). But the second goal did come in the 38th minute through Albert Lokonga after Borussia had lost possession twice in their build-up play. Seconds earlier, Nico Schlotterbeck had seen his header hit the crossbar, so instead of being 1-1, it was 0-2.

Nmecha missed the chance to pull one back in the 45th minute when he fired a penalty (Omari on Beier) wide of the left-hand post. The second half began with two substitutions – Serhou Guirassy and Ramy Bensebaini for Adeyemi and Reggiani – and following a brilliant move, Nmecha found himself one-on-one with Heuer Fernandes. The HSV keeper was already on the ground but managed to get his fingertips to the ball, preventing Dortmund's first goal with his second brilliant save (49).