Experienced spine the subtle key to Dortmund’s success

Borussia Dortmund recorded an impressive 3-1 away win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga at the weekend. It was a result that moved them into fourth position and prevented the hosts from taking over the top spot from Bayern Munich.

Dortmund will always be praised for giving young players a chance, and rightly so, not many top clubs field a three man frontline with the combined age of just 58.

Erling Haaland, who is still only 20, showed why he is well on his way to becoming a complete striker. He shrugged off a quiet first half, in which he touched the ball just four times, to score twice in the second 45. His first was a thunderous header, his second was composure personified as he rounded the Leipzig keeper, Péter Gulácsi, before stroking the ball into the gaping net.

Jadon Sancho, who is also 20, grabbed a goal and an assist and was dangerous throughout the game on the left hand side. He is having a much quieter season than his last campaign but there was plenty of evidence on this viewing to suggest that he is about to refind his mojo.

Giovanni Reyna, the youngest of the three at 18, had a much more subdued evening but still offered glimpses of his explosive talent; expect him to find consistency as he matures.

It’s very easy to eulogise about these players, they are eye-catching, exciting and have the capability of changing the outcome of a match with a moment of quality. Indeed, the youngsters arguably grabbed the headlines with Haaland (two) and Sancho scoring the goals but it was the experienced spine of the team that were crucial to Dortmund’s victory.

Behind these flamboyant youngsters are solid, experienced, dependable players that hold things together when matches are tight or if Dortmund are under the cosh. During the Leipzig game it was Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Emre Can who came to the forefront and reminded the world of the importance of the blend of youth and experience.

Hummels, now 32, still looks every bit the player he was five years ago when Bayern Munich paid over £30 million to secure his services and add him to their double winning squad. In this game he prevented Leipzig’s star striker, Yussuf Poulsen, from having a kick.

He also made some timely interceptions and tough but fair tackles that broke up countless Leipzig forays forward. His reading of the game has always been superb and it was interesting to see that he hasn’t lost that ability despite being in the twilight years of his career.

Reus at 31, is another player that has been branded with the unenviable label of ‘past his best.’ However, he was instrumental in most of Dortmund’s flowing attacking moves. He could have broken the deadlock with the first goal of the game, just three minutes into the second half, as he made an intelligent run into the box and was found by a beautifully weighted through ball by Sancho.

Reus tried to catch Gulácsi out with a quick fire near post shot but the Leipzig number one was equal to it and turned it behind for a corner.

The first goal typified Reus’ value to the team, he played an intricate one-two with Haaland before he diverted Haaland’s low cross from the right into the path of Sancho with a deft backheel flick.

This touch of brilliance took the last defender completely out of the game, wrong footed Gulácsi and allowed Sancho enough time to stride onto the ball and fire a first time strike home.

Reus added his second assist of the game for Dortmund’s third goal. This time it was a precise through ball that carved the Leipzig defence wide open and put Haaland clean through on goal. Haaland kept his composure to add his second goal of the game and Dortmund’s third.

The youngest of the trio is 27 year old Can. The former Liverpool and Juventus player came on late in the first half for the injured Axel Witsel. He made a massive difference in helping Dortmund win the midfield battle and used the ball extremely well.

He could even have had a goal himself, having met Sancho’s corner with a bullet header that landed on top of the goal. The power he generated on the header was ridiculous and had it been fractionally lower it would surely have given the ‘keeper no chance.

Without these performances Dortmund may not have been in a position to win the match. As an attacking unit, they were fairly anonymous in the first half but because they dug in and repelled Leipzig, it meant they went in at half-time level at 0-0.

This gave them the platform to regroup, and push for the win. It was then that Sancho and Haaland demonstrated their expertise in finishing. This would not have been possible if Hummels hadn’t consistently snuffed out Leipzig’s attacks.

Nor would it have been, if Can hadn’t pinged the ball around so effortlessly to help keep possession. It certainly wouldn’t have been possible if Reus hadn’t helped knit the attacks together so fluently and laid on two of the chances to score.

Ultimately, the connotations of Dortmund’s team will always be promoting young players, which undoubtedly the hierarchy at the club will be delighted with. However, it isn’t their only attribute or key to success as they showed, with great effect, last weekend.

 

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