TSG Hoffenheim 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Key Takeaways
Gregor Kobel denied yet another clean sheet due to Dortmund’s dismal defending
The unfortunate nature of being a keeper for this Borussia Dortmund side is that, no matter how hard you try, goals are going to be leaked semi-frequently. This is the reality current number 1 Gregor Kobel has to contend with whenever he gets on the pitch.
Kobel has been nothing short of a wall for Dortmund this season, often pulling off some seriously impressive saves that have kept Die Schwarzgelben in games where in previous seasons they may not have managed to obtain any points at all. While he hasn’t of course been infallible, the Swiss shot stopper’s performances have warranted more than the 2 Bundesliga clean sheets he currently has to his name this season.
Week after week it seems inevitable that the team’s defending will be harped on, but at least in the context of Kobel’s own game its become a rather unfortunate scenario to find one’s self in. The defensive cover in front of Kobel has been, barring a couple of exceptions, shambolic all season long, and Hoffenheim’s opener on Saturday was the perfect example of just how little cover Kobel has had.
Starting with the buildup, three Dortmund players attempt to cover Angelo Stiller, and fail to stop the ball from getting to Bebou out on the wing. Even as the ball makes its way towards Bebou, there are five BVB players in the vicinity, which leaves the box very much exposed and light in terms of bodies should a cross find its way into the middle or out to the other end, which inevitably it does.
Moving on to what’s going on in the box: as Bebou puts in this pinpoint cross, there is no one close enough to Kramarić to put any pressure on the Croatian international.
Marius Wolf, who in theory should be positioned closest to Kramarić in this situation, has gravitated into a far more central position, giving the Hoffenheim striker both time and space to nab his 100th goal for the club. The ball is hit first time, making sure there’s velocity and power behind it which of course makes it hard for Kobel to get down in time.
Perhaps the Swiss international could have done slightly better here, but the fault lies squarely with the parties that allowed this to happen in the first place. The goal is far more a result of error prone marking than it is a goalkeeper error, and it is exactly these situations that will continue to haunt Kobel and Dortmund unless they are reviewed and rectified by Rose and his charges.
On a brighter note, Manuel Akanji’s overall performance was immense. The Swiss international returned from surgery post the winter break and showed on Saturday just how imperative it is for Dortmund to extend his contract. He has grown into an important player and hopefully he can continue to be the last line of defense in Dortmund’s most dire situations.