Dortmund's awe as a compliment: "But there was nothing..."

Bundesliga - Dortmund's awe as a compliment: "But there was nothing..."

Dortmund's awe was the best compliment for Bayer Leverkusen. Before the Bundesliga leaders started to fly high, relegation candidates had already been more courageous in the BayArena than runners-up Borussia Dortmund.

Which Leverkusen leader Granit Xhaka assessed with mischievous irony. Asked about a phase of easy ball losses after the break, the Swiss replied: "We only gave our opponents a little hope for a short time so that they would think they could do a bit more now. But then nothing came of it."

Indeed, even though BVB were the second team after FC Bayern to score points against Bayer in their 20th competitive match of the season in the 1:1 (1:0) draw, led from the 9th to the 79th minute and were therefore, according to coach Edin Terzic, "one of the closest" to a win against Leverkusen - the direct duel clearly showed that the difference between the two teams is aptly reflected by the ten-point gap in the table.

"Never seen Dortmund play like this before"

How defensively BVB played also surprised the Leverkusen players. "I've never seen Dortmund play like that. Everyone behind the ball," said Bayer goalscorer Patrik Schick. And sporting director Simon Rolfes explained: "In the past, there have often been more open games against Dortmund than today. But everyone chooses their own tactics."

Rolfes, however, believed that the defensive bulwark organized magnificently by Mats Hummels, as in the 3-1 win at AC Milan five days earlier, was not entirely voluntary. "We expected them to be more defensive," said Rolfes: "The fact that they were so defensive was certainly also the result of our dominance and strength."

BVB coach Edin Terzic admitted: "The pressure from Leverkusen and the early 0:1 through Julian Ryerson (5') only had a limited influence on Maurer's tactics, which are atypical for Dortmund. "Over the last few weeks and months, many people have been thinking about the best way to play against Leverkusen. We chose this approach," he said.

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1. Despite Bayer Leverkusen's challenge, Borussia Dortmund (BVB) has shown reverence towards their Bundesliga rivals, considering it as the highest form of compliment.
2. Mats Hummels, a Leverkusen leader, interpreted Dortmund's cautious approach with a hint of amusement.
3. Despite gaining points against Bayer Leverkusen for the second time after FC Bayern, Dortmund was 'one of the closest' to securing a win, according to coach Edin Terzik.
4. The defensive strategy demonstrated by Dortmund was unexpected and surprising for Leverkusen, with goalkeeper Patrik Schick stating, "I've never seen Dortmund play like that."
5. The competitive match highlighted the ten-point gap between both teams in the Bundesliga, underscoring the difference in their performance.
6. Simon Rolfes, sporting director of Leverkusen, attributed Dortmund's defensive approach to their collective tactics, as well as their dominance and strength.
7. During the post-match analysis, Terzic acknowledged that the initial pressure and an early goal by Julian Ryerson had minimal impact on their atypical strategy, which was carefully planned over several weeks.
8. Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are two strong Bundesliga contenders, with both teams displaying unique strategies and depth in their play, showcasing the competitiveness of the German soccer scene.

Source: www.stern.de