Jude Bellingham was the sole saving grace for Borussia Dortmund as they fell at home to Rangers in the UEFA Europa League.
German giants Borussia Dortmund fell prey to a motivated Rangers side who took the game to their opponents in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout rounds clash at Westfalenstadion.
A mixture of Dortmund’s poor defending accompanied by inspired attacking play by the visitors helped Rangers emerge 4-2 winners on the night. While the Gers deserve credit for the performance, it must be said that Dortmund made life difficult for themselves.
Die Schwarzgelben squandered good chances to take the lead, with Dan-Axel Zagadou and Jude Bellingham both going close in the opening stages. The former turned villain just before half-time, conceding a penalty that James Tavernier coolly converted.
Further chaos at the back gifted Alfredo Morelos a tap-in, putting the Scottish champions two to the good. John Lundstram sent the Scottish side into dreamland, making the score 3-0 in the 49th minute before Jude Bellingham pulled one back for Dortmund in the 51st minute.
4 – Borussia #Dortmund have conceded 4+ goals at home in a UEFA competition for the second time ever, after their 8-4 win over Legia Warsaw in the Champions League in 2016. Defeat. #BVBRFC pic.twitter.com/Gp8fV30rXr
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 17, 2022
Zagadou put one through his own net to make it 1-4 to Rangers in the 54th minute. Raphael Guerreiro scored Dortmund’s second on the night in the 82nd minute to give the scoreline some sense of respectability. While a 4-2 home loss is more or less a death sentence in European knockouts, the fact that the away goal rule has been abolished does give Dortmund hope.
But if they are to progress, the German giants will need to put up a much better showing than what they displayed on Thursday. The Hard Tackle looks at how the Dortmund players fared on the night.
Gregor Kobel: 5/10
Kobel, to his credit, did his best to keep the scoreline respectable and made a few solid saves on the night. He was largely let down by those in front of him as the defence decided to take the night off.
Manuel Akanji: 3/10
Akanji was terrorised by Ryan Kent all night and failed to deal with the winger’s mazy runs and direct approach. Akanji looked to have taken a knock as he was taken off around the hour mark.
Mats Hummels: 2/10
The German international is a shadow of the dominant defender he once was and was completely ineffective on the night. Hummels struggled to read Rangers’ attacks and was often guilty of leaving his backline high and dry. One would expect much better from the seniormost defender in the Dortmund squad.
Dan-Axel Zagadou: 1/10
Zagadou hattrick tonight ?
missed sitter ✅
penalty given ✅
own goal ✅— leo ? (@blackyellow31) February 17, 2022
A horrendous performance by the centre-back who might as well have been playing with a Rangers jersey underneath. He squandered an early opportunity to give Dortmund the lead and then steadily continued to contribute to his own side’s downfall. Zagadou gave away the penalty for Rangers’ opener and was left high and dry for their second and third goals.
Perhaps not to be left out, he put one through his own net in the 54th minute to cap off a truly terrible night that he will be keen to forget.
Raphael Guerreiro: 6.5/10
He was one of the few Dortmund players who ended the game with any credit in the bag. Guerreiro assisted Bellingham for his goal before giving his side renewed hope in the tie with a late strike that gave McGregor no chance.
Goal for Guerreiro pic.twitter.com/8TuWSndrEt
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 17, 2022
Axel Witsel: 6/10
The Belgian was solid if unspectacular on the night. He was tidy in possession but offered little going forward. It came as no surprise that he was taken off as Dortmund sought a way back into the tie.
Mahmoud Dahoud: 4/10
Dahoud did well in the build-up to Guerreiro’s goal but struggled to offer much otherwise. Dahoud was caught in no man’s land numerous times as Rangers cut through the Dortmund midfield with ease. A disappointing performance from a player who can do much better.
Marco Reus: 4/10
Dortmund’s in-form man almost gave the home side the lead early on. However, the German international dropped off as the game went on and was largely anonymous in the attack.
Julian Brandt: 3/10
The German was all smoke without fire on the night. Brandt showed off his dribbling skills but offered little to hurt the Rangers defence. He also kept losing possession numerous times.
Donyell Malen: 4/10
The Dutchman’s complete contribution on the night amounted to a mere two shots that were blocked. Malen offered little threat up front and was promptly taken off in the 68th minute.
Jude Bellingham: 8/10
Bellingham was one player who can be completely absolved of Dortmund’s struggles on the night. He scored early in the second half before teeing up Guerreiro for what could, in the end, prove to be a decisive strike.
Jude Bellingham is looking forward to playing at Ibrox next week in the second leg of #BVB's Europa League tie with #Rangers. #UEL pic.twitter.com/INJLE3KztR
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) February 17, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Giovanni Reyna: 5/10
Reyna was brought on for Axel Witsel as Dortmund sought to find a way back into the tie. While he did show more intent, it did little to sway the game in his side’s favour.
Youssoufa Moukoko: 4/10
Moukoko replaced the ineffective Brandt at half-time but was hardly an improvement. He offered precious little upfront and was largely anonymous on the night.
Nico Schulz: 6/10
The German international brought Manuel Akanji’s nightmare to an end in the 55th minute and offered Dortmund more security at the back. He was solid, if unspectacular.
Steffen Tigges: 5/10
Tigges replaced Malen but offered little inspiration in the Dutchman’s stead.
Reinier Jesus: N/A
Reinier replaced Reus but had little time or opportunities to make an impact.
