Head Coach Niko Kovac made only one change to the first eleven from the 2-1 win over Sabah FC in the Champions League, fielding an experienced lineup with and average age of 28.4 years. Marcel Sabitzer replaced Carney Chukwuemeka in the first eleven.. Those in attendance and watching around the world witnessed an attack-minded and physcial opening to the game by both teams. In the second minute, Fabio Silva made a strong run down the left wing and delivered a centering ball to to his strike partner Serhou Guirassy, but Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu managed to get in the way. On the ensuing counterattack, Ramy Bensebaini came up with a crucial last-ditch play to deny Eintracht a quality scoring chance.
BVB combined its high press with dynamic passing sequences, creating two excellent chances for their leading goalscorer just over a quarter-hour into the match: First, Serhou Guirassy unleashed a powerful shot from 17 meters (roughly 18.5 yards) out, but the oustretched Noah Atubolu deflected the ball out for a corner (15'). Then, two minutes later, Borussia's target forward got on the end of a pass and attempted a chip with a clear look at goal, but Atubolu somehow managed to throw up his hand in time. Shortly after, Daniel Svensson (18') and Ramy Bensebaini (19') went down in the penalty area following separate challenges by Collins and Burkardt, respectively. No penalty kick was awared in either situation.
At times, the game turned into a back-and-forth affair. Frankfurt’s Jonathan Burkardt fired just wide from 17 meters (roughly 18.5 yards) out in the 27th minute, and Gregor Kobel later made a save before snatching the ball from Younes Ebnoutalib’s feet at the last moment (33'). At the other end, Svensson’s shot was deflected by Collins and hit the crossbar (31'), followed by a Felix Nmecha effort at the near post following a short corner, forcing another block by Atubolu to keep the score at 0-0 heading into intermission.
The match retained its high tempo after the break. BVB seemed determined to bag all three points but was left frustrated once again in the 53rd minute, as Guirassy headed Veerman’s hard delivery off the underside of the crossbar. He was again unlucky in the 67th minute, his shot from six meters (roughly 6.5 yards) out whistling narrowly wide of the left post. The chance had resulted from a cross by Ryerson.
Niko Kovac subsequently introduced three attacking subs, aiming to keep the pressure high amid his team's strong performance and a fantastic atmosphere at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.
Not long thereafter, Kovac’s stretegic moves paid off, with the game winner sending the Black & Yellow faithful into a frenzy. It was substiute Maxi Beier himself who initiated the sequence that led to his goal, his pass down the left sending Jobe Bellingham into space. Having entered the match a few seconds prior, Bellingham laid the ball back to Beier, who made it 1-0 by way of a magnificent shot into the far-side netting from 17 meters (roughly 18.5 yards) out.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 1-0 (0-0 at half)
Bundesliga, Matchday 7
BVB: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson (90'+2 Gadou), Veerman, Svensson (68' Beier) – Sabitzer (68' Chukwuemeka), Nmecha (79' Bellingham) – Guirassy, Silva (68' Nwaneri)Bench: Meyer, Mane, Inacio, dos SantosUnavailable: Can, Konstantelias (both torn ACL), Karetsas (ankle ligament injury), Lerma (muscle injury), Prates (muscle issues), Reggiani, Albert (both in action with the U-23s on Friday)
SGE:Bench: Kaua Santos, Kosugi, Maluze, Höjlund