Painting hits late: storm scrapes delicately and sensation passes

He came, saw and scored: Donyell Malen scored as a substitute for BVB to win against Sturm Graz.
IMAGO/Team 2

After three competitive defeats in the series, including the exit in the DFB Cup in Wolfsburg (0:1 nV), the Borussians only got some peace with the 2:1 against Leipzig. Nuri Sahin relied on the same starting eleven again on Tuesday evening – but given the extremely tense personnel situation, the BVB coach had little other choice.

At least one change was made by Sahin's counterpart Christian Ilzer, who chose Johnston instead of Geyrhofer (bench) compared to the 1-1 draw in the top game against Rapid Vienna. The Austrian champions and cup winners, who arrived as leaders of the Admiral Bundesliga, had set themselves the goal of scoring their first points in the premier class.

Dortmund started dominantly

This plan should be overturned early on, because Dortmund start dominant and playful. Sabitzer had his first opportunity after six minutes, but the Austrian headed wide to the left of the goal.

The BVB midfielder also played a decisive role in a double chance that followed around ten minutes later, but neither Sabitzer nor the follow-up Beier were able to beat storm keeper Scherpen (15th).

Kiteishvili fails because of Meyer and prevents BVB from taking the lead

While the hosts subsequently lost some of their dominance, the back four were solid and only created a few opportunities. Only in minutes 16 and 31 did the guests really make a compelling appearance, when neither Kiteishvili from a distance nor Hazibegovic from the half-left position were able to put the ball in the black and yellow net.

Guirassy (28th) and Bensebaini (42nd) also played a decisive role in the fact that at the break there was not only 66 percent possession of the ball, but also 13 shots to two for Dortmund, but like their colleagues they remained unlucky. Beier also had a chance to make it 1-0 in the 43rd minute, but was denied by Kiteishvili, who cleared the ball in time after a strong solo effort.

Schlotterbeck checks Scherpen from a distance

BVB coach Sahin unsurprisingly decided against making personnel changes at the break as, with the exception of Malen, he did not have a single substitute player with Champions League experience. The Dutchman, in turn, only entered the field after 67 minutes – as the first joker.

In the meantime, the Black and Yellows had lacked the desired determination and were far too rarely able to convert their advantage in possession into compelling opportunities in the second half. Lavalee stood in the way of Sabitzer's attempt (56th), Schlotterbeck's powerful long-range shot was parried carefully by Scherpen (58th).

Malen takes the late lead

While Graz were rarely able to pose serious problems for BVB, it was Biereth who missed the best opportunity to take the visitors' lead with a header in the 71st minute. On the Borussia side, Campbell, an 18-year-old premier class debutant, entered the field a little later (78th), but he subsequently had to leave the show to those who had already been substituted.

Debuts in the premier class: Ayman Azhil and Cole Campbell (from left).
imago images (2)

After winning the ball high and completing a one-two with Guirassy, ​​the Dutchman finished half-right in the penalty area, which neither Scherpen nor Aiwu were able to fend off from the shot. Malen shot the ball into the far corner with a slight deflection (85'). Even in the four-minute stoppage time, the moderators were no longer able to be disconcerted, and Sahin also helped the 23-year-old Azhil to his first appearance in the most important European club competition late on (89th).

Dortmund, which now has nine points after four games in the Champions League, remained without losing a point in its seventh home game across all competitions this season. BVB will next be guests in Mainz on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. SK Sturm Graz, still without a point in the premier class, will face TSV Hartberg on the same day at 5 p.m.