That comeback against Malaga: Borussia Dortmund’s most memorable moment of the decade?

This decade was full of special moments for Borussia Dortmund. But its hard to think of a moment more memorable or emotional than the late comeback against Malaga.

It was April 9, 2013. The Jürgen Klopp era was in full force at Signal Iduna Park. Klopp had been appointed by the board in May 2008 as the new Borussia Dortmund head coach in the hopes of steering the ship back on course after a near financial collapse nearly bankrupted the club and subsequent appointments to that event did not do the club justice. After a few years, Klopp’s Dortmund won the Bundesliga title back to back as well as the domestic cup in 2012 to complete a historic double for the club.

It was not only the titles that mattered, but the fact how Borussia Dortmund played heavy metal football with their gegen-pressing and quick counter attacks. Another important factor was the winning mentality that Klopp instilled into his Dortmund side.

During their successful runs in the domestic league, Borussia Dortmund did not do too well in Europe in the 2011-2012 season as they crashed out in the group stage.

However, 2013 was a completely different scenario that saw Dortmund top their group, a group that contained European heavyweights Real Madrid. In the round of 16, Dortmund faced Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, and beat them 5-2 on aggregate.

It was in the quarterfinal where Dortmund faced Malaga, a team that was bought by Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani in June 2010. Malaga signed numerous quality players (including Joaquin, Isco, Demichelis, and Caballero) and made a a very respectable ascent up the La Liga table the previous season, finishing 4th which helped them qualify for the Champion’s League.

The club was managed by Manuel Pellegrini, a veteran coached who had managed River Plate and Real Madrid in the past. This team was not to be taken lightly.

The first leg was played in Malaga and finished without goals from either team. The second leg would decide the tie. Dortmund would be at home at Signal Iduna Park. Could Dortmund cross the finish line and get into the semis, a position they had not been in since they won the competition in 1997?

When Joaquin scored in the 25th minute and Robert Lewandowski equalised in the 40th after a beautiful passing sequence starting with Mario Gotze, a backheel from Marco Reus, and a shot past Willy Caballero, the answer seemed to be no. Malaga were in the front seat due to the away goal rule.

Things did not look much better in the second half after Eliseu scored from a clear offside position in the 83th minute. Dortmund were facing elimination. At this point, Klopp brought in Mats Hummels to deliver long balls into Malaga’s box.

In the 91st minute, a long ball made it over Malaga’s defense and after several players made contact with the ball, it was Marco Reus who equalized for Dortmund. Could the unthinkable happen? A minute later it did. A cross by Lewandowski found its way into the box and after bouncing around, Dortmund defender Felipe Santana tapped it in to make it 3-2. The absolute euphoria and emotions at the stadium and for Borussen around the world.

Although when Lewandowski crossed the ball, several Dortmund players were in an off-side position, poetic justice and the football gods balanced out Malaga’s off-side goal. Dortmund advanced to the semi-finals against Real Madrid and would go on to the final against rival Bayern.

It wasn’t simply tactics that won BVB the match, but also that mentality that was nurtured over several seasons by Klopp. That was the difference between then and now.

I hope the new year will bring us something close to the moment against Malaga and make us believe again. But as of now, this writer’s opinion, the moment against Malaga will have to do as the most emotional BVB moment of the last decade and serve as a reminder that we can reach those heights again.