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Key Takeaways from Borussia Dortmund’s narrow win over RB Leipzig

By Brian Szlenk Straub

LEIPZIG, GERMANY - JANUARY 19: Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena on January 19, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - JANUARY 19: Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena on January 19, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images) /
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LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JANUARY 19: Axel Witsel of Dortmund celebrates the opening goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on January 19, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Karina Hessland-Wissel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JANUARY 19: Axel Witsel of Dortmund celebrates the opening goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on January 19, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Karina Hessland-Wissel/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Axel Witsel Shows his quality once again

As the season continues to unfold, I’m beginning to realize that Axel Witsel loves two things very dearly. The first two of these is what he’s been praised for all season: being an incredible midfielder that dictates the tempo of play. The second is scoring against RB Leipzig.

Witsel has scored two goals in the Bundesliga this season, both of which have come against Leipzig. The first of these goals was one to remember- an overhead kick of some style that developed from a Christian Pulisic corner. Witsel’s goal in this game was just as emphatic, and also came from a corner, this time whipped in by Jadon Sancho. Sancho’s cross grazed off the top of Łukasz Piszczek’s head. The ball would find its way to Witsel on the other side of the box, and the Belgian sent a rocket of a shot right underneath the bar to open the scoring.

It would be the decisive, and only goal of the game but once again shows how crucial Witsel has been to Dortmund’s success this season.

On top of scoring the winning goal, Witsel once again performed his midfield duties with precision and class. Throughout the game, “Chaloupe” made crucial tackles to break up Leipzig’s play by intercepting passes, keeping the ball for his team and distributing the ball with pinpoint accuracy passes.

One of the hallmarks of Witsel’s performance was frustrating Leipzig striker Youssef Poulsen and not allowing the Danish international time on the ball. This proved to be infuriating for Poulsen who was largely ineffective, thanks in large part to Witsel’s efforts.

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