Borussia Dortmund 4-4 Schalke: Review; BVB collapses in second half to draw Revierderby

Borussia Dortmund headed into the Ruhr Derby against Schalke 04 without a win in the Bundesliga for quite some time. BVB had a strong first half but the second half was, simply put, painful to watch. BVB is left with plenty of questions that need to be answered–what will they do? Where do they go from here?

First Half:

Weidenfeller got the start ahead of Burki who picked up an injury in Dortmund’s UCL tie midweek. The team selection was interesting with Toprak, Sokratis and Schmelzer forming the back-line with Pulisic and Guerreiro on the wings. Julian Weigl and Nuri Sahin held the midfield with Gotze having a free role. In attack, Aubameyang had support from Andrey Yarmolenko.

The game had an electric start with both, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, bringing a fiery presence on to the pitch. Schalke would draw the first card for fouling Schmelzer. BVB began to slice through Schalke’s defence. After 12 minutes, Aubameyang would find the back of the net after a great build-up play.

1-0, Dortmund.

BVB looked like a different team in comparison to the past 2 months. Maintaining possession and pacing the game at will, BVB refused to let the opposition have any chances. Stambouli would make things better for Dortmund by scoring an own goal. A defensive mistake during a set-piece delivered by Nuri Sahin meant that BVB had doubled their lead after 18 minutes.

2-0, Dortmund.

With around 20 minutes gone, after a surprising cross from Aubameyang to Gotze, BVB  lead the game 3-0. Gotze scored a beautiful header that was aimed low and into the back of the net. Dortmund were reborn in the light of their rivalry against Schalke. BVB had full control of the game and continued to run over their derby-opposition.

3-0, Dortmund.

Causing more havoc, Aubameyang and company pressed hard into the final third. After a blocked shot, Guerreiro would get in on the action with a skilful volley to put the ball past the goal-keeper.

4-0, Dortmund.

The rest of the half continued with Dortmund dominating the opposition. The Signal Iduna Park was lit up as the referee called for half-time.

Second Half:

Schalke had made a double-substitution in the first half and used their final substitution into the second half. Dortmund got into the game trying to continue their run against Schalke. Unfortunately, the game didn’t unfold in the same way.

VAR waved off an early goal from Schalke, but it wouldn’t be enough for Der BVB. Sokratis and Aubameyang picked up cards in the 53rd and 55th minute. Schalke brought the score within 2 by the 65th minute.

With the scorecard reading 4-2, there was still hope for BVB.

After Bartra came on for Yarmolenko at the 68th minute, Aubameyang made a stupid challenge and was shown a red card. Making things worse, Gotze picked up an injury and signalled to the bench for a substitution. Castro came on in his place and within a minute, was shown the yellow card for injuring Harit of Schalke.

Stefan Buczko summed up the play best:

Zagadou came on for Guerreiro at the 83rd minute, but luck had already deserted BVB.

Schalke came back in unbelievable fashion and scored the third goal. With 7 minutes of stoppage time added, Dortmund’s defence couldn’t hold on and Schalke would level the match with four goals on either end of the hyphen.

4-4.

You’d think the action was over, but no! After full-time, Sahin and Fahrmann got into a fight (due to the keeper celebrating on the south side) which saw both men get yellow cards.

Peter Bosz’s Dortmund did not play a second half in this match. Having blown a 4-goal lead in 45 minutes of play, there is a need for action at BVB.

Dortmund might have drawn the Revierderby, but this was no less than a defeat.