Borussia Dortmund somehow managed to remain intact in the title race, thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin this afternoon. The Black and Yellows were mightily tested by the disciplined defence of Bruno Labbadia’s men, with Emre Can’s goal separating the two sides.
Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings Vs Hertha Berlin
Roman Burki 5/10
Barely had anything to do as Herth Berlin failed to create clear cut opportunities. A much needed clean sheet for the Swiss goalkeeper.
Lukasz Piszczek 7/10
A decent defensive display from Lukasz Piszczek, who passed the ball well and looked much better when in possession. Did enough to maintain Dortmund’s solidity at the back.
Emre Can 8/10
Replacing the suspended Mats Hummels, Can produced an excellent display at the heart of the Dortmund backline. He was quite busy on both ends of the pitch and scored the all-important winner, with a brilliant finish.
Manuel Akanji 8/10
With Hummels missing, Manuel Akanji’s reliable passing, excellent positional awareness and sublime tackling were essential in helping Dortmund keep the Hertha attack at bay. The Swiss international is seemingly improving since the league’s restart.
Achraf Hakimi 7.5/10
Achraf Hakimi had a busy game on the right flank. He moved up and down the pitch, providing the necessary offensive support for the Dortmund attackers. The Moroccan also operated as a right-winger later in the game.
Thomas Delaney 7.5/10
Thomas Delaney continued his excellent run of form with yet another fantastic display, this time alongside Axel Witsel. He was quite competent in his tackles and passed the ball well, even though he did have a hard time dealing with Hertha midfielders.
Axel Witsel 8/10
Axel Witsel made his return to the team with a flawless display in midfield. The Belgian was reliable with his passes, as ever, while his ball-carrying qualities eased Dortmund’s transition from midfield to attack.
Raphael Guerreiro 7.5/10
Raphael Guerreiro wasn’t as busy as Hakimi on the opposite flank. But, the Portuguese international always looked menacing whenever he had the ball and provided the creativity going forward with his one-touch passing. Created a glorious opportunity late in the game for Jadon Sancho.
Jadon Sancho 7.5/10
The Hertha defenders didn’t afford Sancho much space. So it was getting difficult for him to breach the opposing defence with his silky footwork. However, the Englishman did look menacing and kept the opposition busy throughout the game.
Julian Brandt 7/10
Julian Brandt was marked tightly by the organised Hertha defence. As a result, he found it difficult to influence the game, especially from a central area of the pitch. But, the ex-Leverkusen star had a key part to his play in the goal, thanks to his cushioned header towards Can. It was a game-changer.
Thorgan Hazard 6.5/10
Perhaps not the best of games from Hazard, who, much like his fellow Dortmund attackers, got annoyed by Hertha’s tight marking.
SUBSTITUTES
Giovanni Reyna 6/10
Came on for Brandt in the 68th minute but didn’t really make any noticeable impact to the proceedings. Hertha’s defensive understanding was too much for the young American.
Mateu Morey N/A
Made his second Bundesliga appearance in the 79th minute replacing Hazard. His clinical passing and smart movements could surely catch the eye of Lucien Favre.
Leonardo Balerdi N/A
Replaced Witsel, with just ten minutes remaining on the clock. Offered stability in the heart of the Dortmund midfield.
Marcel Schmelzer N/A
A late replacement for the tiring Guerreiro. But couldn’t replicate last weekend’s cameo.
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