In the aftermath of a hard-fought match, Mats Hummels, who was the cause of the penalty, remained in a heated debate with the referee over the decision even after the final whistle had blown. However, the BVB professionals, exhausted from the intense game, didn’t partake in any significant celebrations. The 1:1 draw (1:0) in the first leg of the round of 16 at PSV Eindhoven provided Dortmund with a decent starting point for the second face-off against the Dutch on March 13th, but it didn’t bring complete satisfaction to anyone.
Contrasting with their successful group phase, BVB, already significantly behind in the Bundesliga title race, didn’t put its best foot forward in the premier class on Tuesday evening. The decision to award a penalty for equalizing the score was a major point of contention for the BVB players. Hummels voiced his frustration about the referees on Amazon Prime, stating, “I don’t understand the referees at the moment.” He expressed his belief that their decision-making is on a completely wrong trajectory, and lamented the fact that the video refereeing has only worsened the situation.
In the jam-packed Philips Stadium, with 35,000 spectators in attendance, Donyell Malen (24th minute) managed to put his former club in the lead. However, a penalty kick by Luuk de Jong (54th/foul penalty) after a tackle from Hummels resulted in the Dutch side securing a well-deserved draw. “I saw a very beatable Eindhoven here today,” Hummels commented after the game.
The initial few minutes of the game went as expected, or perhaps as Dortmund had feared. PSV, under the direction of former BVB coach Peter Bosz, exerted immense pressure on the Dortmund side. The hosts, who were undefeated in the league with only two draws and 20 victories, pushed BVB back into their half. Even the presence of goalkeeper Alexander Meyer, who was brought into the visitors’ goal at the last minute, did not deter the relentless attack of the opponents.
Terzic’s team struggled to match their opponent’s style of play, a recurring issue they’ve faced throughout this season. This resulted in a game riddled with errors, and their attempts to gain control were short-lived.
BVB grapples with the sudden unavailability of two key players
Adding to their challenges, BVB’s regular goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who apparently sustained a muscle injury during the warm-up, was unavailable. Additionally, Westphalia’s Niklas Süle too had to sit out due to illness. Veteran Mats Hummels had to step in and join the four-man defense chain, which had the task of keeping an eye on PSV captain de Jong. At the 17th minute, Malik Tillmann found himself completely unchallenged in the penalty area, but his aim was off the mark.
Earlier, Malen, who had recovered just in time for the match, made an attempt towards the PSV goal. Unfortunately, his shot lacked the necessary power and precision. However, this marked the end of the host’s initial high-pressure phase.
Dortmund goalscorer refrains from celebrating excessively at his former ground
BVB managed to penetrate into the PSV half, and the ball found its way to Malen via Marcel Sabitzer. Malen, who transferred from Eindhoven to Dortmund in the summer of 2021, skillfully dribbled past the opponent and shot the ball into the near corner, aided by a deflection. Out of respect for his former club, Malen chose not to celebrate his goal excessively.
However, it was clear that the home team wouldn’t accept defeat easily. They created multiple opportunities as BVB struggled to defend effectively.
Substitute Meyer managed to keep Borussia’s goal intact until the end of the first half. After a short break, PSV resumed their domination in the second half. BVB appeared passive, losing the ball too easily and failing to regain control of the game.
The referee awarded a penalty after Hummels made a tackle on Tillmann, much to Hummels’ displeasure. The video referee confirmed the decision, leading to De Jong, the PSV captain, coolly converting the penalty into the corner for his 28th goal of the season in all competitions.
After about an hour into the game, Terzic decided to replace Marco Reus, who had an inconspicuous performance, with national player Julian Brand. Shortly after, Marius Wolf came on for Jadon Sancho and narrowly missed a free kick. However, Eindhoven was closer to scoring the winning goal. BVB had to put in a lot of effort to secure a draw.
