Dortmund suffer 2nd defeat in a row
Borussia Dortmund 2 - 3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Borussia Dortmund played host to Eintracht Frankfurt, who hadn't won at Dortmund since 1991. But the visitors walked away victorious today.
The first half of the match came to be a very evenly matched affair, with both sides having plenty of possession and attempts at goal. It was the away team that managed to open the scoring though. With 7 minutes played Benjamin Kohler leaped to meet a Patrick Ochs cross, and powered home a header.
Frankfurt nearly added a second minutes later when Altintop got some space at the edge of the box but Marc Ziegler was quick off his line to muffle out any attack.
On the 15th minute Dortmund managed to pull a goal back. Grosskreutz's corner was cleared only as far as Mohamed Zidan who played the ball back into the box where Mats Hummels was quick to react to put the ball in the back of the net.
Both teams had their fair share in chances on goal but Frankfurt were the closest to adding to their tally. Altintop managed to shot past Ziegler in the 27th minute but Mats Hummels was quick to clear the ball off the line, and just a few minutes later Altintop again had another great chance but failed to materialise a free header.
On the 39th minute Barrios was clear on goal but quick reactions by the goalkeeper ensured that the Dortmund hitman didn't score.
So at halftime the teams remained on level terms at 1-1.
The second half both teams took a while to get into the match shot wise, both teams kept plenty of possession though.
Dortmund then took the lead in the 56th minute. Owomoyela done well to retain possession of the ball in the oppositions box, he played the ball out to Zidan who crossed the ball into the box. Barrios was there to slot home from a few yards.
Dortmund went on to create a few good chances but the Frankfurt goalkeeper was on good form. In the 64th minute a Frankfurt corner was cleared out to Jung who fired a shot from 20 yards but it took a deflection on the way and Ziegler had no chance. The score levelled at 2-1.
The match livened up as both teams went all out for the winner. Dortmund came closest when a scramble in front of goal failed to materialise. It was then in the 73rd minute when Frankfurt took the lead. Meier took advantage of some slack defending to shoot past Ziegler.
Dortmund had the best chance after that just 1 minute away from the end of regulation time, Santana managed to head over the bar from 2 yards.
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler- Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer, K. Großkreutz, Sahin, Le Tallec, Zidan, Valdez, Barrios
Eintracht Frankfurt: Nikolov- Jung, Franz, Russ, Spycher, Chris, P. Ochs, Meier, Teber, Köhler, Halil Altintop
Zidan: “Dortmund and BVB are my home.”
Recent Africa Cup Champion Mohamed Zidan has made clear where is home is. Zidan gave a brief interview after landing in Dusseldorf on return from his country. "I am full of joy, motivation, self-confidence, and full of energy," said the Dortmund attacker. Zidan is expected to play on Sunday against Eintracht Frankfurt (17.30). "I can hardly wait to get back out there," said the 29 year old Egyptian.
Over his role in the Africa Cup he had this to say, "I played an important role. I missed the Final of the last cup when I was with Mainz because we were in a relegation battle. I had to watch the final in a hotel in Hamburg." Zidan did not have to watch from abroad again, he played in this years final and assisted on the goal. "We were outnumbered, 2 against 4. I played a pass beyond three defenders and right into the path of Mohamed Gedo. One touch, shot, goal!"
Today Zidan returns to Dortmund. "Now I am finally home. Dortmund is my home." The smile he gave only showed his sincerity. Zidan received numerous texts from teammates before all of the games in Africa and he said he was floored to receive them. Zidan even talked on the phone with Owomoyela "every two or three days."
Borussia Dortmund against Eintracht Frankfurt: Preview
Borussia Dortmund look to splash doubts of a lack of good form and are setting their sights on Frankfurt. Dortmund fell last weekend 1-4 against a strong Suttgart side away from home. The Westfalen return home and will have the support of 70,000 or more fans rooting for them for the clash against Frankfurt on Sunday (17.30).
Dortmund will have Mohamad Zidan back in the squad and it appears that Sven Bender is fit. Bender will be a game time decision, but in training today he had no pain from an earlier complication from the knee. Dortmund will be missing star midfielder Kuba who is suffering from back problems. Felipe Santana is still making a recovery from a bone bruise but the prognosis is looking better.
Frankfurt have a strew of their own players missing but much of their starting eleven has not been badly effected. Big Star missing from Frankfurt is the Greek forward Amanatidis. Dortmund can cushion their lead on Frankfurt in a European place with a win. Frankfurt is eight points behind Dortmund and a win would see Dortmund move eleven points clear of Frankfurt. Dortmund currently sit fourth in the table on 36 points and are looking ambitiously to play European football this year.
Possible Lineups:
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender (Santana), Sahin - Valdez, Zidan, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Bench: Höttecke - Dede, Hünemeier, Santana, Hajnal, Götze, Ginczek, Stiepermann.
Questionable: Bender, Barrios, Santana.
Missing: Weidenfeller, Kuba, Kehl, Tinga, Feulner, Rangelov, Öztekin.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Nikolov - Franz, Russ, Chris, Spycher - Teber - Ochs, Meier, Liberopoulos, Köhler - Altintop.
Bench: Fährmann - Jung, Heller, Tsoumou, Caio, Toski, Titsch-Rivero
Questionable: Chris, Teber.
Missing: Petkovic, Vasoski, Bajramovic, Korkmaz, Clark, Fenin, Amanatidis, Schwegler, Tosun, Alvarez.
Referee: Unknown
Yellow Card Tally: Barrios, Sahin, Valdez, Schmelzer (all 4) - Teber (9), Ochs (4).
Attendance: 70,000(unofficial number)
Dortmund suffer at the hands of Stuttgart
Stuttgart 4 - 1 Borussia Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmunds unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end today as they lost 4-1 against Stuttgart. Dortmund had previously gone 12 games unbeaten. But Stuttgart are also on a good streak and proved too powerful for Dortmund.
Before the match Stuttgart sat in 13 place on the table and Dortmund in 4th. Luckily for Dortmund they continue to occupy 4th spot but this win moves Stuttgart up to 10th place.
Stuttgart went ahead in the 14th minute when Pogrebnyak scored from close range with what would have been Stuttgarts only shot on goal in the first half. The Stuttgart defence stood strong as Borussia Dortmund came at them during the first half.
In the second half Stuttgart had numerous chances to extend their lead, most notably when Ciprian Marica hit the crossbar from the penalty spot on the 47th minute. Three minutes later though Dortmund had equalised after Grosskreutz played in Barrios who fired home. Both teams then fought for the lead.
Stuttgart then went on to score 3 goals in the last 15 minutes to rid of any hopes of Dortmund getting a 7th win in a row. Kuzmanovic (77'), Marica (86') and Träsch (89')
VfB Stuttgart: Lehmann - Celozzi, Niedermeier, Tasci, Molinaro - Träsch, Khedira - Gebhart, Hleb - Marica, Pogrebnyak.
Bor. Dortmund: Ziegler - Owomoyela, Subotic, Santana, Schmelzer - Hummels, Sahin - Kuba, Valdez, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Sunstitutions: 59. Hilbert for Hleb, 65. Kuzmanovic for Gebhart - 22. Le Tallec for Kuba, 85. Hajnal and Götze for Valdez und Santana.
Goals: 1:0 Pogrebnyak, 1:1 Barrios , 2:1 Kuzmanovic, 3:1 Marica, 4:1 Träsch .
Referee: Gagelmann (Bremen), Yellow Cards: Marica, Pogrebnyak - Sahin, Santana, Barrios, Schmelzer.
Attendance: 42.000.
Stuttgart vs BVB
VFB STUTTGART - BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Sunday, 31. January 2010, (Mercedes-Benz-Arena)
Following on from their win against Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund travel to face Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena. Klopp's side are currently on a 12 match unbeaten run, notching up 6 wins in a row.
Stuttgart are currently sitting in 11th place and are eager to progress further up the table. But Stuttgart have only managed to win twice in the last 9 meetings between these sides. Only once in the last 4 at home. Dortmund are sitting in 4th place after their recent good run.
VfB Stuttgart: Lehmann - Celozzi, Niedermeier, Tasci, Molinaro - Träsch, Khedira - Hilbert, Hleb - Marica, Pogrebnyak.
Substitutes: Ulreich - Osorio, Boulahrouz, Hitzlsperger, Gebhart, Boka, Rudy, Cacau, Kuzmanovic, Schieber.
Doubtful: Cacau .
Injured: Lanig , Delpierre .
Borussia Dortmund: Ziegler - Owomoyela, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer - Bender (Santana), Sahin - Kuba, Valdez, Großkreutz - Barrios.
Subtitutes: Höttecke - Koch, Dede, Santana, Hajnal, Götze, Ginczek, Stiepermann.
Doubtful: Bender , Sahin .
Injured: Weidenfeller , Kehl, Tinga , Zidan (Afrika-Cup), Feulner , Rangelov , Öztekin.
Owomoyela expected to return to the squad
In something that can be seen as good news in terms of team fitness and options , the return of defender Patrick Owomoyela is expected to give the injury troubled first team of BVB a much needed boost.
With Owomoyela was quoted as saying "he is free of pain and thinks he can play" after recovering from a bout of the flu. His return is sure to give coach Klopp an extra option to choose from for the game against Leverkusen on saturday.
The current BVB squad absentee list stands at Dede , Sebastian Kehl , Jakub Blaszczykowski , and Mats Hummels all out with various injuries , not to forget missing for saturdays game against Bayer Leverkusen will be Tamas Hajnal who will be out due to a suspension not an injury.
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