Super sub Bynoe-Gittens the saviour as BVB get revenge on Bremen

Borussia Dortmund made it six wins from six in 2023 with a 2-0 win at Werder Bremen, courtesy of second half goals from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Julian Brandt.

An injury for Youssoufa Moukoko was the only negative in what was otherwise a successful afternoon for Dortmund, who keep the pace with Bayern Munich and Union Berlin at the top of the Bundesliga.

Background

In their last eight trips to the Weserstadion, BVB had won four times, with Bremen away from home proving not to be their favourite fixture on the Bundesliga calendar.

That was especially relevant for the Signal Iduna Park faithful this time around, given Werder had ended their perfect start to the 2022/23 season back in August.

Goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Julian Brandt saw an underperforming Edin Terzic’s side two goals in front with just a minute of regular time left to play.

But Lee Buchanan gave the visitors hope at the death, before Niklas Schmidt and Oliver Burke scored in stoppage time, to snatch all three points in astounding fashion.

Lineups

Werder Bremen

1. Jiri Pavlenka

5. Amos Pieper

4. Niklas Stark

13. Milos Veljkovic (c)

8. Mitchell Weiser

10. Leonardo Bittencourt

36. Christian Groß

6. Jens Stage

3. Anthony Jung

11. Niklas Füllkrug

7. Marvin Ducksch

Borussia Dortmund

1. Gregor Kobel

26. Julian Ryerson

25. Niklas Süle

4. Nico Schlotterbeck

13. Raphael Guerreiro

23. Emre Can

22. Jude Bellingham

7. Giovanni Reyna

19. Julian Brandt

11. Marco Reus (c)

18. Youssoufa Moukoko

When Edin Terzic’s team selection was announced an hour prior to kick-off, most Dortmund fans were satisfied with the manager’s choices.

Giovanni Reyna had scored three goals off the bench in his previous three league appearances; he was rewarded with a start, alongside teenage sensation Youssoufa Moukoko, who would make his first start in four matches up front.

Raphael Guerreiro and Nico Schlotterbeck were both named on the bench in BVB’s Pokal win at Bochum in midweek; they returned to the backline, with Mats Hummels and Marius Wolf making way.

Club legend Marco Reus netted the winner on Wednesday; he was the only other change to that side, replacing Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the starting lineup.

Story of the match

To start the game, Borussia Dortmund seemed to possess more threat going forward.

Nine minutes in, Julian Brandt fed through Raphael Guerreiro, who turned nicely before firing a shot at Jiri Pavlenka in the Bremen goal.

Just minutes later, Julian Ryerson found himself making an unlikely drive forward out of his own half. The Norwegian was afforded space on the edge of the box but his effort was dragged just wide of the post.

💛 pic.twitter.com/2DOdQqkvBx

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 11, 2023

But at the other end, Werder started to have some chances of their own with a great Weserstadion atmosphere behind them.

A teasing Mitchell Weiser cross from the right flank was just about diverted wide of goal by Ryerson.

From the following corner, the visitors could only clear the ball as far as Weiser just outside the area. His powerful strike was kept out by Gregor Kobel.

After one of many tough tackles from Leonardo Bittencourt, Youssoufa Moukoko was then forced off with what appeared to be a nasty ankle issue.

Weiser was the danger man for the hosts; he put in another dangerous delivery, with which Germany international Niklas Füllkrug should’ve done a lot better.

Überragender Support von da oben! pic.twitter.com/anMmSSDUie

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 11, 2023

Before half-time, a short spell of Dortmund pressure saw Emre Can curl an effort just off target.

That pressure was carried into the second half by BVB, who saw a couple of early chances; first Marco Reus was denied by the legs of Pavlenka, before Jude Bellingham poked a Ryerson cross goal-bound, only for the Czech international to deny him with a stupendous stop.

An aerial duel soon after saw Nico Schlotterbeck and Weiser clash heads, leading to a lengthy delay in play.

Terzic’s side survived a scare shortly after, when former BVB academy player Marvin Ducksch struck the woodwork, but was ruled offside.

Then, just a minute after coming off the bench, on the 67 minute mark, the ball fell for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens after a drive forward by Schlotterbeck. The Englishman lashed it home at the near post to finally break the deadlock and put the visitors in front.

1 min and 9 seconds, that was it. pic.twitter.com/erRoc9dpS0

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 11, 2023

From that point on, Dortmund were effectively in full control and with five minutes remaining (85’), they would seal the win, when Guerreiro played Brandt in behind. The German skilfully cut inside onto his preferred right foot, before coolly slotting the ball into the far bottom corner.

At the death, Sebastien Haller, who had come on to replace Moukoko, did well to set up Bellingham for another chance but Pavlenka denied him yet again, and that was how the game would finish.

Player Ratings

• Gregor Kobel – 7
• Julian Ryerson – 6.5
• Niklas Süle – 7
• Nico Schlotterbeck – 6.5
• Raphael Guerreiro – 7
• Emre Can – 6
• Jude Bellingham – 7.5
• Giovanni Reyna – 5
• Julian Brandt – 8
• Marco Reus (c) – 5.5
• Youssoufa Moukoko – 5

⚠️ | QUICK STAT

Jude Bellingham successfully completed 9 out of 13 dribbles against Werder Bremen — that's the most successful dribbles any player recorded in a single Bundesliga match this season.

An excellent display in Borussia Dortmund's 2–0 win. 💫#SVWBVB pic.twitter.com/wdIUoK5iO2

— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) February 11, 2023

Subs:

• Sebastien Haller – 5.5
• Jamie Bynoe-Gittens – 6.5
• Salih Özcan – 6
• Thomas Meunier – N/A
• Mahmoud Dahoud – N/A

Analysis

That’s now six wins in six in 2023 for Borussia Dortmund, who have returned from the World Cup break in fine form.

Still in third place, three points behind league leaders Bayern Munich, into the DFB Pokal quarter-finals and the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, there’s still plenty to play for in a promising campaign for Edin Terzic’s men.

15 – Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens scored BVB's 15th goal by a teenager in the Bundesliga this season (excl. own goals) – as many as all other teams combined. Talent. #SVWBVB @jbgittens pic.twitter.com/ZYYzmVXcso

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 11, 2023

It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means but they seem to be developing a winning mentality.

That was a game BVB would’ve likely lost in the first half of the season but they get their revenge and the wins keep coming, something that bodes well for the remainder of the term.

Upcoming fixtures

• 15/2: Chelsea (H) – UEFA Champions League
• 19/2: Hertha Berlin (H) – Bundesliga
• 25/2: Hoffenheim (A) – Bundesliga
• 3/3: RB Leipzig (H) – Bundesliga
• 7/3: Chelsea (A) – UEFA Champions League
• 11/3: Schalke (A) – Bundesliga