Match Ratings: Dortmund Shock the Tinpots

Dortmund have not had the best of starts this season. The football’s largely been lacklustre, with brilliant individual performances also few and far between. Worse, leasing up to this match, we’d lost four of our last five games and a third of our senior squad was out injured. Leipzig, by contrast, had gone from strength to strength domestically, sitting level on points with Bayern and boasting the league’s meanest defensive record. Understandably, expectations were not high, and any hope that had begun to build after a surprisingly dominant opening 25 was dealt a potentially lethal blow as RB scored a lovely goal with their first shot on target.

However, this was not to be the end of die Schwarzgelben, who levelled within three minutes, with Maxi Beier getting his name on the scoresheet for the first time in his Dortmund career. Dortmund continued their surprising dominance, pushing forward and creating chances, but poor finishing meant we went into the half level. With not much to turn to on the bench, it was all on the men on the pitch who to deliver and Serhou Guirassy did just that, heading home a delightful Beier delivery. Leipzig looked toothless throughout, creating little of note and we likely should have had a few more. 2-1 it finished, with our black and yellows more than good value for the win. Match ratings below:

Starting XI

Alexander Meyer

Yash: 5

I’ve seen some criticism of Meyer for the goal we conceded, but, on second viewing, I still find it hard to blame him. Largely untested but good with his feet. Seems to command his area well too.

Zac: 6

Very impressed with his ball distribution and composure.

Ramy Bensebaini

Yash: 7

Provided extremely important defensive cover down the left, and played the most passes into the final third. A very very good performance.

Zac: 7

Nico Schlotterbeck

Yash: 8

Super from Schlotti today. I love how much he seems to genuinely enjoy crunching opposition forwards.

Photo by Jan Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images

Zac: 8

Emre Can

Yash: 8.5

Emre’s passion and aggression has often manifested itself as hotheadedness but he was absolutely impeccable, making monster tackles and really leading the defensive effort. His goal-line clearance was the cherry on the top. Immense.

Zac: 8

A statement performance from the captain. Can’s forward passing is much improved when that’s the only direction he can go.

Pascal Gross

Yash: 7

I was terrified that he would get torched by the pace of Leipzig’s attack, and, while their goal did come down his wing, his ability in possession was vital for us going forward.

Zac: 7

Felix Nmecha

Yash: 7.5

Felix is another player who appears to be redeeming himself with this yet another impressive performance from him. Tasked with being the deepest of the three central players, he locked it down. Also got an assist that he likely knew very little about, but they all count!

Zac: 8

Marcel Sabitzer

Yash: 7

Zac: 6

Just a part of the system on the day, nothing wrong with that.

Jamie Gittens

Yash: 2.5

Had a real opportunity to do well today up against the defensively frail Henrichs but failed to make his mark with poor final-third decisions and dreadful finishing. Caught short in Leipzig’s one second-half chance, too. Perhaps our young winger’s beginning to tire a little under the fixture load?

Zac: 5

It wasn’t hallmark but 5/6 dribbles completed (most in the match), and two shots on target is a fine day at the office. This is a 7 if he puts his easy chance away.

Julian Brandt

Yash: 7.5

I’ve docked him a half point for not putting his chance away, but there’s no doubt he was pulling all the strings out there. Excellent in the free role, his ability to combine well was on full display as was his impressive work rate without the ball.

Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images

Zac: 7

Maximilian Beier

Yash: 9

Welcome to Dortmund, Maxi! He’s largely flattered to deceive this season, but was absolutely superb in an unfamiliar right-wing role today.

Zac: 9

Right-wing may be somewhat unfamiliar for Maxi but he should get comfortable there because it’s his role for the taking right now.

Serhou Guirassy

Yash: 8

His ability to link play is of huge importance going forward. Continued his hot start to life in NRW with the game winner in the 65th minute.

Zac: 8

Substitutes

Ayman Azhil - N/A

Donyell Malen - N/A

Overall

Yash: 8

Quite simply our best performance of the season. We were cohesive both with and without the ball, something we haven’t seen much of recently. There wasn’t much fancy tactical tweaking, just players giving it their absolute all while deployed in roles the majority of them are comfortable in. Hopefully this game serves to set the standard and ignite some confidence; with players trickling back from injury over the next couple of weeks, we could be a real force. All I can say is: sharpen up the finishing a little, and more of the same please!

Zac: 8

There’s very little to critique from this performance. Two goals, defensively solid and an incredibly important win under the circumstances. A win against Sturm Graz midweek could settle the ship. The Wolfsburg defeat stung but it’s safe to say it was a better performance than Augsburg. Throw in this win and one in the UCL, and Dortmund may have their head above water, finally.