Hertha Berlin 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Key Talking Points

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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DORTMUND, GERMANY – OCTOBER 27: Ondrej Duda of Hertha BSC and Axel Witsel of Borussia Dortmund battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC at Signal Iduna Park on October 27, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Dortmund felt the absence of Axel Witsel

What may be one of the most obvious statements of the season so far, Axel Witsel’s presence in midfield was sorely missed in the game against Hertha. The first half of the game emphasized this with Dortmund struggling to put together passes. Hertha stifled Dortmund’s midfield play by applying pressure; pressure which Witsel usually manages to handle with a grace and calmness that has gone unrivaled in the Bundesliga this season. Witsel is one of the key players that pulls the strings in Dortmund’s midfield, his metronomic play linking defense with attack. He’s also key in stifling play alongside Delaney, but in a much more composed fashion.

Luckily for us, the second half of the game opened up and the pressure on Dortmund’s midfield eased, allowing them to breathe and string together some plays. Weigl did an admirable job filling in for Witsel, but clearly did not have the same commanding presence the Belgian does, which is why Dortmund fans will be hoping he can be back to full fitness come the end of the international break.

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