Erling Haaland endured a difficult game as Dortmund needed inspiring performances from Jadon Sancho and Raphael Guerreiro to seal a 3-1 victory over Augsburg.
Borussia Dortmund finally bounced back to winning ways after sealing a 3-1 victory over FC Augsburg at the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.
It was far from an impressive performance from Die Schwarzgelben, who once again struggled to dominate the opposition in the first half. An early flurry from the home side turned into a cagey affair, with Augsburg eventually finding the breakthrough in the tenth minute.
BVB responded strongly, though, and created a few opportunities before Thomas Delaney levelled the scoring in the 26th minute as the two teams drew 1-1 at half-time. The Dortmund goal signalled a more defensive approach for Augsburg who were more than willing to employ a deep defensive block after the restart.
It was a move that backfired as the Black and Yellows ripped open the backline through Raphael Guerreiro’s pass that allowed Jadon Sancho to fire his team into the lead. It was a turning point in the game as Dortmund proceeded to dominate the second-half while FCA were barely able to trouble opposition offensively.
It was only a matter of time before the hosts found the third goal as Erling Haaland’s whipped cross saw Felix Uduokhai turning the ball into his own net in the 75th minute – effectively sealing the game for BVB. Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will take a closer look at the Borussia Dortmund players in their win over FC Augsburg this weekend.
Marwin Hitz: 6/10
Marwin Hitz replaced the injured Roman Burki in goal, starting against his former club. He couldn’t have done anything to keep out Hahn’s vicious strike from close range but was barely called into action since. Indeed, it was Augsburg’s only shot on target meaning Hitz was a spectator during the remainder of the game.
Mateu Morey: 6/10
Mateu Morey didn’t provide anything to the table on the right flank. He was ineffective in the build-up while his offensive contribution wasn’t groundbreaking either. It is perhaps time Dortmund start to give more opportunities to Felix Passlack, ahead of the young Spaniard, in the current absence of Thomas Meunier.
Manuel Akanji: 7/10
Manuel Akanji had a slow start to the game and could have perhaps closed down Hahn inside the box rather than trying to block his effort on goal. The Swiss international eventually settled in, playing a key role in the build-up while barely allowing the likes of Florian Niederlechner and his compatriot Ruben Vargas to create any scoring opportunity.
Mats Hummels: 7/10
Following two miserable defensive performances, Mats Hummels led his team quite well against FC Augsburg. He was calm and composed during defensive phases, preventing the likes of Vargas and Niederlechner to exploit his lack of pace. Might have preferred a clean sheet, though.
Raphael Guerreiro: 8/10
Raphaël Guerreiro has set a new career high in assists with seven. He had six for Borussia Dortmund in 2018-2019. pic.twitter.com/cEL4CgaSs4
— Adam Darowski (@fussballtwit) January 30, 2021
Raphael Guerreiro produced one of his better performances this year, notably playing a delightful ball over the top to set up Sancho’s second-half goal. His service down the left flank was impeccable, with the defender also linking up well with the likes of Sancho and Marco Reus throughout the course of the game.
Julian Brandt: 6/10
Julian Brandt started ahead Emre Can and Jude Bellingham in midfield as Terzic opted to add more creative spice in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, the former Bayer Leverkusen star couldn’t really find his rhythm and was subbed off during the final phase of the game.
Thomas Delaney: 8/10
Thomas Delaney produced a remarkable display in the middle of the park. He was rock solid in defensive phases, making excellent tackles and recovering possession at will. In addition, the Dane scored the all-important equaliser with a thumping header just before the half-hour mark. The midfielder clearly deserves more first-team opportunity in the Dortmund side.
Jadon Sancho: 8/10
Jadon Sancho’s revival for Dortmund this season continues as the winger looked hungry once again, even in the first half. He was always willing to take on the opposition and played a couple of nice passes in the final third. Took the chance coolly to help BVB get back into the game in the second half to cap off a sparkling display.
Marco Reus: 8/10
Marco Reus was one of the best players in this game, as he looked bright right from the beginning. Unlike other Dortmund attackers, the club captain showed a lot of responsibility, particularly with his defensive work-rate. It was also his cross that led to Delaney’s equaliser, with the German international playing a key role in a host of Dortmund’s chances later in the game.
No player has assisted more goals in Borussia Dortmund history than Marco Reus (87) ?️
Congratulations on another massive achievement, Marco! ? pic.twitter.com/nzElLTRfZl
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 30, 2021
Giovanni Reyna: 6.5/10
Giovanni Reyna had a rather disappointing game against FC Augsburg. The youngster certainly looks uncomfortable in the wider positions and has never really looked promising under Terzic. The Dortmund coach needs to find a way to accommodate the USMNT starlet into a more central role alongside Reus.
Erling Haaland: 6/10
Erling Haaland had a miserable game despite the Dortmund win and his key role in the third goal. He looked sloppy in possession, lacking the sharpness we can associate with him. In addition, the striker missed a crucial penalty in the first half, which could have ended badly for Dortmund. Looked more threatening during the final phase of the game, but it was not a usual Haaland display.
No end to Dortmund’s penalty taking problems. After Marco Reus & his failures, now Erling Haaland hammers one off the bar (and back in play). #BVBFCA 0:1.
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) January 30, 2021
Substitutes
Jude Bellingham: 7/10
Jude Bellingham replaced Julian Brandt during the final phase of the game and immediately made an impact. His quick feet and a darting forward pass was crucial in the build-up towards Dortmund’s third goal.
Lukasz Piszczek: N/A
It was great to see Lukasz Piszczek making a rare appearance late in the game, coming on for Morey. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Nico Schulz: N/A
Returned to the pitch after replacing Guerreiro on the left flank. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Mahmoud Dahoud: N/A
After a fallout with Edin Terzic, Mahmoud Dahoud finally returned to the pitch, replacing Reus late in the game. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
