Dortmund 4-1 Hertha Berlin: Unlike Union Berlin, Borussia Dortmund took full advantage of Bayern Munich’s loss of points on Sunday. The men of Edin Terzic are therefore equal in points with the leader.
Unlike Sébastien Haller, Donyell Malen and Karim Adeyemi started in the base at Borussia Dortmund. They both played an extremely important role in the first half. Adeyemi was responsible for the opening goal with less than half an hour on the clock.
Captain Marco Reus got rid of two men with a nice solo, but his shot seemed to be nipped in the bud. By chance, however, Adeymi was exactly in the right place to promote that failed attempt to goal. In a quick reaction he touched the ball with his heel and that’s how he made it 1-0. Less than five minutes later, the 21-year-old attacker also claimed a leading role in Dortmund’s second goal.
Adeyemi passed his opponent from the outside with ease and pulled the ball forward. At the far post, Malen was ready to score his first official goal since July 29. From time to time, Dortmund showed its supremacy in this game, but relegation candidate Hertha BSC also gathered the chances. That led to the Anschlußtreffer just after the break.
Exactly 57 seconds after the whistle, Lucas Tousart made it 2-1. He shot a twice-returned ball over the underside of the crossbar. Fifteen minutes before the end, Reus, who had been discredited this week, ended the hope that Hertha BSC had received. From the edge of the box he lifted a free kick over the wall in the short corner: 3-1.
Julian Brandt was ultimately responsible for the last goal, he found it just after a brilliant through ball from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (4-1). The win puts Borussia Dortmund on a level with Bayern Munich. Both teams have 43 points, just like Union Berlin, but leader Bayern has a considerably higher goal difference. Next Sunday, Bayern will play Union Berlin at 5:30 PM.
Malen’s first Bundesliga goal since April
Edin Terzic had already hinted beforehand that Malen would get another chance against Hertha BSC. He must prepare for that. We know his qualities, we see them every day at training. We hope that he can also show it in the game,” the Borussia Dortmund coach said on Friday.
Two days later, Malen did indeed kick off and did what his trainer hoped. The attacker repaid the confidence with his first Bundesliga goal since April 2022 against RB Leipzig. He thus contributed to the 4-1 victory over Hertha BSC.
The success for Malen was partly due to an unusual role for him. “He played in a different position, as the only striker. We wanted to have a player there who could bring depth with his pace. He did that very well. We are happy that he scored his first goal. It was a really good performance from him.”
