Borussia Dortmund Frustrated In Champions League Loss

Borussia Dortmund came into the first leg tie against Benfica with high hopes of a positive result. Alas, it wasn’t to be as the proud German club fell 1-0.

This tweet regarding Borussia Dortmund’s futility in front of net sums of the match better than almost anything so I’ll begin this recap with it:

Borussia Dortmund's 2.62 expected goals are the most in a game without scoring by any team in the last four UCL seasons.
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) February 14, 2017

It is astounding to stop and consider just how poor Borussia Dortmund and specifically Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was in front of goal today. Aubameyang missed three chances that should have been goals, one being a penalty. Others had near chances clawed out of the net by wonder goal keeper and man of the match Moraes.

There was almost no facet of the match in which BVB didn’t dominate. Almost 70% possession, five times more shots on target, more than double the passes, and a 10 to 3 corner advantage.

Ultimately this is what gives me hope for the second leg. If Aubameyang can find his normal form two of those three big chances goes in and BVB will easily advance. That is before the switch in the venue as well.

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The troubling thing is, though, Aubameyang was so horrible this match and for most of the post-winter break period that who knows which version of the player will show up.

This Champions League bout began with an Aubameyang opportunity just minutes into the match. It could have set the tone, but instead, the striker sent the opportunity skying over the net.

Throughout the first half, BVB used a madman high press to great effect. When the press was broken Sokratis or Bartra actually cleaned up almost all the loose garbage. It seemed like Thomas Tuchel got everything correct and BVB were going to waltz to a win, but at the half it was still 0-0.

Many of the BVB twitter community were pleased with the first half, but wary because the club failed to capitalize on the clear chances to put the match and tie to bed.

Those worries were found out quickly. Benfica came out of the break on fire. It was if they used up all their attacking intent in one flurry of action. Two corners and a few shots later, Count Dracula impersonator Kostas Mitroglou pounced on a loose header by Luisao to score from the goal line.

BVB didn’t give up and responded by peppering the Benfica goal. First, it was Reus, then a close cross by Guerriero and finally a penalty drawn by Marc Bartra for trying to lift a dribble past a sliding Benfica defender in the box resulting in a hand ball.

Aubameyang would step up and tamely hit a shot right down the middle. Still 1-0 to Benfica. Auba would have another golden chance before finally Tuchel had mercy and sent the striker packing.

Next: Addressing the Darmstadt match

Despite Aubameyang’s struggles, it must be said the club did create while he was on the field. Once he left, true chances were few and far between. There would be just one more shot on target due in large part because Benfica began to bunker in.

The first leg went to Benfica 1-0, but BVB fans take heart this tie is far from over. Your club returns home where they haven’t lost in seemingly human memory. A simple 1-0 win will result in extra time and a 2-0 win would mean BVB advance, we are not done yet.

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