Dortmund Unable To Deliver The Final Blow In Malaga

Dortmund played out a thrilling goalless draw against Malaga on Wednesday. Despite the many wasted chances in this match, Dortmund should not be too worried as they take a 0-0 result into the return leg at Signal Iduna Park.

Dortmund faced off against Malaga in what was billed as one of the most exciting games in this seasonai??i??s Champions League. Unlike the other fixtures in the quarterfinals, this was one between two sides who werenai??i??t expected to get this far, and surely not with the ease with which they did. But on Wednesday night, both teams looked a shadow of what they’ve been during the earlier rounds of Europeai??i??s top club competition.

Dortmund may have been considered narrow favorites but the trip to Andalusia was never going to be easy. For a side that is relatively inexperienced at the continental level, Dortmund werenai??i??t too far ahead of Malaga in terms of experience or quality. But as expected, Dortmund began the hungrier of the two sides.

Playing their usual quick footed, free flowing, one touch football, Dortmund constantly troubled a sluggish Malaga defense. Mario GAi??tze was given two fairly simple chances to open the scoring early on, but the German international seemed to have left his scoring boots back at home. This set the tone for the rest of their night. His shots seemed to lack the usual accuracy and bite that one sees from him in the Bundesliga week in and week out. Credit must be given to the Malaga custodian, Willy Caballero, but on most occasions GAi??tze’s shots were far too tame.

Much like GAi??tze, Marco Reus had a terrible game by his standards. His movement and unbelievably quick passing were a treat to watch, but he seemed to lack the usual lethality that is associated with him in the final third. On innumerable occasions Reus was poor with his finishing and often unable to make that killer pass that has been so crucial to Dortmundai??i??s season so far. An embarrassing passing accuracy of 62% sums up Reusai??i?? night.

Like his two fellow Germans, Kevin GroAYkreutz also had a poor night, but this didnai??i??t come as too much of a surprise to those familiar with Dortmund this season. Meant to act as a shield to the ever shaky Marcel Schmelzer, GroAYkreutz was far from satisfactory from a defensive perspective. Malagaai??i??s right winger, Joaquin, proved to be a constant threat after the home side settled into their groove, and Dortmundai??i??s left sided duo can count themselves lucky that Malaga won’t be coming to Dortmund with a victory to their name.

GroAYkreutzai??i??s game on the attacking front was only worse. Brought into the side to replace the injured Jakub Blaszczykowski, the 24-year-old was in hiding for most of the game. Never a threat to Malagaai??i??s left back, Vitorino Antunes, GroAYkreutzai??i??s ineffectiveness gave the Portuguese defender enough and more opportunities to thunder forward without having to worry about defensive duties.

All wasnai??i??t washed up for Dortmundai??i??s highly rated attack force, as both Robert Lewandowski and Ilkay GA?ndogan were a couple of notches ahead of the rest of the team. Although they did take their time to grow into the game, Lewandowski and GA?ndogan caught the game by the scruff of the neck and, had they had a bit more luck, could well have killed it off.

Although some might argue that Lewandowski was also not at his goalscoring best, his hold up play and link up were levels above that of GAi??tze and Reus. Had either one of the two German starlets been a little more effective in finishing or providing for Lewandowski (although GAi??tze did provide one pass on a platter), this could have been a very different story.

GA?ndogan was his usual game-controlling, wizard-like self in midfield. With the ease and guile of a puppeteer, GA?ndogan ran the show in midfield, giving the brilliant Malaga midfield duo of Jeremy Toulalan and Manuel Iturra a difficult time. Although Iturra and Toulalan did a commendable job in midfield, GA?ndoganai??i??s passing and maneuvering were at a level similar to what he displayed against Manchester City: sublime.

The rest of the Dortmund unit had an average night, with the entire defensive contingent doing a decent job of keeping Malaga quiet. The starlet on the other side and the one being courted by Dortmund, Isco, had a night very similar to that of his equals at Dortmund. On a few occasions his brilliance was there for all to see. But they came seldom and lasted too short. On a night where almost every youngster was left wanting, Isco can be spared the criticism.

Performing at this level was always going to be a difficult job for Dortmundai??i??s youngsters and this sort of performance was inevitable. One argument in Dortmund’s favor could be that the wrestling match in Stuttgart over the weekend took its toll on the players, but excuses arenai??i??t necessary for a side this thin and this raw. It will take time and a lot of faith if Dortmund are to become a regular threat in Europe once again, and these sort of sluggish and wasteful showings are part and parcel of the learning experience.

Looking at this result and the current campaign alone, 0-0 isnai??i??t an awful away result by any means. Yes, this could have been 0-2 in Dortmundai??i??s favor, but this is a young squad that is expected to have nights like this. And the lack of away goals isnai??i??t a problem at all. Playing at Signal Iduna Park is a completely different experience and will almost surely prove to be overwhelming for this Malaga side. With the Yellow Wall behind them and a point to prove for Franz Beckenbauerai??i??s ai???best duo in the worldai??? Dortmund should go through to the semifinals without too much trouble.

Tags: Borussia Dortmund UEFA Champions League

Dortmund Unable To Deliver The Final Blow In Malaga

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