With a thoroughly dominant 2-0 win over Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund hold a critical advantage ahead of a massive reverse fixture in Bergamo next week. Goals from Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier, backed up by a strong defensive effort, resulted in a big victory and a clean sheet that sets the club up nicely to advance to the round of 16.
With Nico Schlotterbeck out and young lad Luca Reggiani getting the start, the defense looked set to be shaky from the jump. When the 18-year-old Reggiani earned
a yellow card only 18 minutes into the game, things got even nervier. However, the Champions League debutant held strong and played the rest of the game with incredible poise. As a whole, BVB limited Atalanta to only seven total shots and 0.47 expected goals.
Dortmund got off to a phenomenal start, putting Atalanta right on the back foot, and were rewarded almost immediately. Julian Ryerson looped in a perfect cross to the back post, where Serhou Guirassy expertly headed it back across goal into the far corner.
In response, Atalanta turned on the pressure, with Reggiani being tested repeatedly by Atalanta winger Nicola Zalewski. While Zalewski did dribble past him twice and get into the 18-yard-box unopposed, he flubbed his crosses both times, although one did require a goal-line clearance by Jobe Bellingham. Thankfully, Dortmund rode out the storm and struck again just before the half ended. Felix Nmecha played a beautiful through ball to Serhou Guirassy, who showed a rare burst of pace to outrun Davide Zappacosta and fire a perfect cross to Maxi Beier, who tapped it into a gaping net.
From then on, Dortmund did a great job shutting down Atalanta, shepherding the game out to a 2-0 win. Here are the highlights:
My Thoughts
- I really liked both Nmecha and Jobe. They are developing into a solid midfield pair, with the latter beginning to look more comfortable as his playing time becomes more consistent. I’ve been particularly impressed by Jobe’s defensive coverage. Against Atalanta, he led BVB with eight ground duels won and six tackles, and also grabbed the aforementioned goal-line clearance.
- For a solid six weeks or so, I was very adamant that Serhou Guirassy needed to be dropped, if only to get him some rest. Through a period of 12 games in all competitions back in the fall, he had only scored twice. He must have been either nursing an injury or fatigued, because he looks like a completely different player. His headed goal was impressive, and his burst of pace and assist to Beier were a dimension we don’t often see from him.
- Ramy Bensebaini, Luca Reggiani, and Waldemar Anton formed a terrific back-line, combining for 15 clearances, 9 duels won, and 6 tackles. I’d be lying if I said Reggiani didn’t look shaky at times, but over the 90 minutes he was more effective than not. I think that Schlotterbeck, Anton, and Bensebaini represent the best possible back-three that Dortmund have at the moment, but as long as Reggiani can fit in when needed, that will be more than enough.
Your Thoughts
What did you think of yesterday’s game? Let me know your thoughts!
