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Hertha Berlin 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Key Talking Points

By Brian Szlenk Straub

16 March 2019, Berlin: Soccer: Bundesliga, Hertha BSC - Borussia Dortmund, 26th matchday. Dortmund's players cheer for goal. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images)
16 March 2019, Berlin: Soccer: Bundesliga, Hertha BSC - Borussia Dortmund, 26th matchday. Dortmund's players cheer for goal. Photo: Andreas Gora/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Andreas Gora/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 16: Valentino Lazaro of Hertha BSC and Manuel Akanji of Borussia Dortmund during the German Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympiastadion on march 16, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by City-Press via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY – MARCH 16: Valentino Lazaro of Hertha BSC and Manuel Akanji of Borussia Dortmund during the German Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympiastadion on march 16, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by City-Press via Getty Images) /

Dortmund’s defense sprouts leaks once again

The defensive issues that Borussia Dortmund have had since the start of the second half of the season were on full display in this match, with Dortmund going behind in the first 3 minutes. The errors began with a poor pass from Bürki, which found a Hertha player in Dortmund’s half of the field. This resulted in a throw near the Dortmund penalty box, from which Maximilian Mittelstädt was able to play a quick 1-2 with Hertha striker Davie Selke. Mittelstädt found space for a shot at the edge of the box, which Bürki saved, but spilled into the path of the on rushing Salomon Kalou, who put the ball in the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Kalou’s goal against Dortmund, in many ways, was one that was inherently avoidable. The goal itself was a culmination of individual mistakes and lackadaisical defending, something we have seen on several occasion in the last few games. Bürki’s pass that started this sequence of play was the first avoidable aspect. The key mistake here, however, was giving Mittelstädt the opportunity to shoot in the first place. As per Total Football Analysis, the defense in a Lucien Favre team often acts as a pendulum, closing down space on the near side of the ball.

By allowing the space for Mittelstädt to shoot, the Dortmund defense did not do it’s job in this situation. As the shot is taken, 5 Dortmund players fail to fill the gap between the ball and Bürki. Of course, this shot shouldn’t have posed Bürki as much trouble as it did.

Dortmund’s defense also allowed Hertha some decent chances in the second half, most notably the 56th minute shot taken by Marko Grujić. As he found his way into the Dortmund box, he received a pass from Kalou which allowed him a chance on goal, the shot skimming off of the post in the end. A follow up from Kalou fell wide, and although it would have been offside had it gone in, the fact that these chances were allowed is a bit concerning.

The defense did improve for the most part in the second half however, with Manuel Akanji stepping up once again. Akanji’s challenge in the 77th minute stopped a Berlin counter attack and once again highlighted how much he was missed through injury, and why he is the leader in Dortmund’s defense. Dan Axel Zagadou must be praised as well for scoring the equalizer in the 46th minute. Zagadou was able to convert a sublime header following a a Jadon Sancho corner. This goal incidentally started Dortmund’s rampaging onslaught through the second half that helped them take all 3 points from this game.

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