Desolate defence, harmless offensive – Borussia Dortmund is threatened with the next embarrassing knockout on the international stage. In their own stadium there was a 2:4 pack. The Swiss goalie Gregor Kobel was sometimes completely abandoned by the people in front of him. Among these was national defender Manuel Akanji, who had to be replaced injured. As with the early end in the Champions League, coach Marco Rose’s team failed to prove its international class.
Rangers professionals James Tavernier (38th penalty), Alfredo Morelos (41st) and John Lundstram (49th) as well as BVB central defender Dan-Axel Zagadou scored an own goal (54th) in front of 10,000 at Signal-Iduna-Park spectators for the deserved defeat of the favored BVB. Jude Bellingham (51st) and Raphaël Guerreiro (82nd) scored for the Rose team.
Barcelona with VAR penalty and missed chances
In the second game, FC Barcelona made their first appearance in Europe’s second-biggest competition in 18 seasons, drawing 1-1 with SSC Napoli at the Camp Nou.
Much more could or should have been seen for the home team. FC Barcelona had the scepter firmly in hand for almost 100 minutes of the game. The team of club legend Xavi also created goal chance after goal chance, especially in the first half and then again deep in stoppage time. In the end, however, one has to complain about the lack of efficiency from the Catalans’ point of view. Especially Ferran Torres, who scored the equalizer from the point, left a lot of chances.
For Napoli this is of course a perfect result. In addition to Zielinski’s well-played opener, the Italians also had a top chance through Osimhen. Otherwise? Lots of defensive work. In the end they were happily rewarded with the important draw in the first leg.