Borussia Dortmund continued their dismal run in the Bundesliga as they were once again held last night byt FC Ingolstadt with a 3:3 scoreline. Two first half goals from Dario Lezcano and Almog Cohen put the hosts in a 2:0 lead into half time before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back which was shortly lived of course, thanks to Lezcano’s immediate response with a goal to bring back the two goal lead. However, goal from Adrian Ramos and a late equalizer from Christian Pulisic saved a point for Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Lineups
After a tiring midweek game against Sporting, Thomas Tuchel made a few changes into his starting eleven and formation as well. The former Mainz boss deployed an unusual 4-1-3-2 formation against Ingolstadt. Roman Weidenfeller was picked over Roman Burki in goal. In defense, Marc Bartra played alongside Matthias Ginter while Lukasz Piszczek made a come back into the starting lineup after a slight injury spell on the sidelines and Schmelzer’s injury meant Joo-Ho Park given a starting berth for the first time this season.
Julian Weigl was full of confidence after when he scored a sensational goal against Sporting to open his senior account. He played at defensive midfield. Gonzalo Castro, Shinji Kagawa and Ousmane Dembele were paired alongside each other a little further upfront and behind Aubameyang as the lone striker.
Martin Kauczinski on the other hand, opted for a two man frontline with Lukas Hinterseer and Dario Lezcano upfront as Australian International Matthew Leckie had to settle for the bench. Almog Cohen and Roger were complimented by Pascal Gros and Moritz Hartmann in midfield, while Marvin Matip partnered with new signing Marcel Tisserand ahead of Orjan Nyland in goal.
The game started in usual fashion with Dortmund players trying to scroll around the Ingolstadt defensive line, but failed to breach in their defense. The installment of Pascal Gros, who is leading the charts for most chances created(25) so far this season, in wide position might have lessened his influence in the middle but the presence of Almog Cohen paid dividend as the 28 year old made five interceptions, took three shots and scored a goal.
The first half was full of mediocrity by Dortmund attackers, again failing to breach the half space of opposition defense. In the second half, Dortmund made a few changes with Christian Pulisic coming in place of Joo-Ho Park. Tuchel shortly changed the formation to three at the back, this time with Lukasz Piszczek moving into the middle to act as a right sided centre back. Pulisic was shifted on to the right wing and Dembele started to act more centrally. In the second half, the French winger looked unplayable at times, doing a few nutmegs, dribbling players at ease but struggled to breach in lines of the Ingolstadt defense.
It was however, Christian Pulisic who quickly made a difference after coming on, attempting four take-ons and putting in some dangerous crosses, but the key factor about the American International was his credibility to get in behind the line. Pulisic’s play-style is pretty simple and non-sophisticated, much like an old fashioned winger. Going in-around the byline and then drifting aside to put in some dangerous crosses.
After Aubameyang’s goal, Lezcano had an immediate response but the goal played an important role to break the locks of the Ingolstadt defense, which initially led to couple of more Dortmund goals. An incursion from Dembele unsettled the defense as he found Pulisic, who ran at the defense too and eventually the ball opened up for Adrian Ramos, who finished it to make it 3:2.
The goal was inspiring for BVB, as they attacked Ingolstadt with full intensity for the final 15 mins or so. Mario Gotze, after an impressive performance against Sporting in midweek, had a nice opportunity to level the game up but his shot hit straight at the goalkeeper.
Felix Passlack was a livewire when he was substituted in for Shinji Kagawa. The 18 year old had a great shot saved by Orjan Nyland, but his cross found Lukasz Piszczek, whose header was saved by Nyland but the rebound came straight out to Pulisic to make it 3:3. ‘
Overall, Dortmund fans should take more notes of their dismal performances against pressing machines and their problems of breaching the half space, rather than taking out the positive from the fact that they had come back sensationally in a game they had been trailing all the time. Both the teams will next prepare for their midweek cup fixtures. Ingolstadt will face the challenge of high flyers Eintracht Frankfurt away while the Black and Yellows will be up against Union Berlin at home.
