Mats Hummels: Borussia Dortmund not clinical enough in defeat to Bayern Munich

Mats Hummels believes missed opportunities ended up costing Borussia Dortmund during their 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund’s top of the table clash against Bayern Munich on Saturday certainly lived up to the billing. But the Black and Yellows were consigned to a 3-2 defeat despite playing the better football and creating the better chances.

Borussia Dortmund took the lead through Marco Reus, but Bayern equalised on the stroke of half time through David Alaba, before goals from Robert Lewandowski and Leroy Sané helped them turn the game around. Erling Haaland pulled one back late on, but Dortmund weren’t able to find a late equaliser. And Mats Hummels believes that efficiency in front of goal was the difference between the two sides.

"“All three goals were deflected, the fourth would have been too, if it had counted. We didn’t dominate, but we didn’t have luck on our side either. We had many, many chances today but we weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. Luck and bad luck are often decisive in top games. In the end, we go home with zero points in a game that could have also ended differently. It’s a pity, but that’s football.”"

Stats certainly back up Hummels’ comments. Borussia Dortmund had a better xG (2.46) than Bayern (1.37). The Bavarians got slightly lucky with big deflections on two of their goals, while Dortmund were made to rue missed chances in both halves.

Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre saw many positives in his team’s overall performance, and said that they should have gotten at least a point from the game.

"“Overall, it was a good game. Very good for the spectators in front of the TV. All in all we have to look at it in a positive light. We had so many chances to score, it’s incredible. But we did a few things wrong and then lost – and conceded three goals. We should have earned at least one point.”"

Manuel Akanji also spoke after the game, and said that his team conceded too many chances at the back, putting further pressure on those playing up front. “Three goals are too many. It’s too much to expect our attack to score three or four goals. We had the opportunities up front, but we weren’t efficient enough. And at the back we allowed too many chances.”

“But we saw that we can compete. We had enough chances that we simply should’ve converted. It’s only the seventh match. We’ll keep trying to win games and we’ll see where that takes us.”

The defeat saw Borussia Dortmund slip to third place in the Bundesliga standings going into the international break. Dortmund are now three points behind leaders Bayern Munich and a point behind RB Leipzig. Lucien Favre’s side face a tough trip away to Hertha Berlin following the two week break.