Bayern Munich 3-1 Borussia Dortmund: Key Takeaways

Questionable refereeing decision hamper Dortmund’s potential for a comeback

A common, yet undeniably irritating trend this season has spawned from the officiating Borussia Dortmund have had to deal with. Major and questionable decisions have seemingly gone against the Black and Yellows in pivotal moments of games time and time again.

The second half of the Bayern game in particular provided yet another example of mistakes made by the referee that, while we can’t say would’ve for sure altered the final outcome, certainly hampered any prospects of a potential turnaround.

After Emre Can halved the deficit from the penalty spot in the 49th minute, a second foul occurred on Jude Bellingham inside the box with Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard bringing the English international down, without making contact with the ball. But neither the referee, nor the VAR decided in Dortmund’s favour and Bayern were given a let-off.

Referee Daniel Siebert has since noted that his assessment of the situation was incorrect, stating that the tackle should have resulted in a penalty for Dortmund. The admission in itself is a welcome one, albeit the fact that it comes too little too late to make any impact. Had this penalty been given, there is always the chance that the result could have been altered in one way or another. And while it is clear that Dortmund shouldn’t rely on correct officiating to keep them in games in the first place, it’s clear that the error played a role in the final result. The fact that VAR did not ask the referee to take a second look at the incident was perplexing to say the least.

Final Thoughts

While the clash between Bayern and Dortmund has come and gone with the Bundesliga title now determined, the reverberations of this game are yet another reminder of the amount of work Die Schwarzgelben have ahead of them as we look towards the close of the season and the start of the summer transfer window.

It’s not all gloom and doom however as the game itself offered glimmers of hope going forward. Young players like Jamie Byone-Gittens have shown promise and ability that can be honed and sharpened to have a real impact in the months and years to come.

Foundation for a brighter, more successful future are indeed in place, and it will be up to those in charge to seize the moment and to build on these foundations in an efficient manner so that the next time these two teams meet, the playing field is far more level and Dortmund can actually mount a challenge against a side that has dominated the league for 10 straight years.