After two of team’s worst performances all season and watching Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga last week, Borussia Dortmund responded with some of the best soccer they have played in months. Sunday’s 4-0 route over Freiburg was expected considering the away side’s packed schedule but Dortmund looked dominant as they earned Champions League football next season.
Niko Kovac made several changes after last week’s loss with Serhou Guirassy, Rami Bensebaini, and youngster Samuele Inacio all coming into the starting lineup. The changes worked; Guirassy and Bensebaini found themselves on the scoresheet while Inacio earned himself a standing ovation after his first start. Borussia Dortmund got on the scoresheet early with Bensebaini’s terrific ball over the top to Maximilian Beier who slotted it in after just eight minutes. Moments later, a well worked passing sequence saw Inacio find Brandt on the right edge of the box. The soon-to-leave midfielder found soon-to-leave striker, Guirassy, who scored his second goal in two matches. Dortmund continued their dominance as Julian Ryerson’s corner-kick found Rami Bensebaini in the 31st minute for Ryerson’s thirteenth assist of the season. Only Michele Olise has more assists in the Bundesliga this season and the last player to reach 13 assists in the league was Marco Reus (who is still balling in MLS for Carson). Dortmund’s first half performance was absolutely dominant. They had 67% of the ball, three goals, and kept Freiburg to just one shot on target.
The second half saw a more balanced affair as Dortmund took their foot off the gas. Freiburg got past Gregor Kobel in the 55th minute as Lukas Kubler scored following a set-piece but VAR intervened. Dortmund responded with a 60th minute shot by Samuele Inacio that probably should have been put away but it’s impossible to fault the young winger in his first match! A slate of changes in the dying moments of the game led to one of Dortmund’s best goals of the season. A back-to-front 25 second sequence with 11 passes saw Dortmund progress the ball from Kobel to Fabio Silva who spun the ball into the back of the net. The goal was well worth a rewatch and you can check it out below:
Dortmund’s Football is Evolving. Much of the conversation around Dortmund in recent weeks has been around evolving Dortmund’s current tactics into a more dynamic, attacking, and creative style. This game was another step in the right direction. Dortmund’s four goals were diverse and came from several players. Inacio in particular highlighted how tricky wingers add a much needed dynamic to this team.
If Dortmund want to play attacking football next season, they’ll have to do it without Julian Brandt. The German midfielder put himself in the shop window in this match after notching an assist on Dortmund’s second goal. Throughout the game, Brandt was pulling the strings and working for his contract next season after announcing he would leave Dortmund. He wasn’t the only one either. Serhou Guirassy has been heavily linked with an exit and he notched another goal in this match. His body language in this match told me that he is definitely looking for an exit so its an area to watch.
Dortmund’s defense remains the team’s strength. The club now have the league’s best defense with thirty one goals conceded and fourteen total clean sheets across thirty one matches. Kovac had Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldermar Anton, and Bensebaini playing to perfection in this match as they limited Freiburg to just three shots on target.
Youth is getting involved. Dortmund’s DNA as Europe’s premier development club has been lost in recent years but it appears that Ole Book and Kovac are looking to kickstart a youth movement. As mentioned, 18-year-old Inacio looked great in this match and 16-year-old Mathis Albert came on for a short cameo in this match. In total, Dortmund’s matchday squad had eight players who were twenty-three or younger. Dortmund’s summer reinforcements already include 17-year-old Kaua Prates and 17-year-old Justin Lerma. Not bad for a club with a washed-up youth system!