Borussia Dortmund completed a black week today. If on Tuesday they lost in the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea, this afternoon they missed the victory in the Ruhr derby against Schalke (2-2) and, after seeing their streak of 8 straight wins in the league which has been cut from the start of 2023 , see how Bayern Munich is the only leader with two points ahead.
The blow received on Tuesday with the European KO against Chelsea was added to the victory that Bayern only achieved against Augsburg (5-3) and the loss of key pieces such as Brandt, Adeyemi, Reus, Moukoko and the goalkeeper Kobel.
Edin Terzic had to manage without them to face an always heated derby against a Schalke who, for the time being, have temporarily stopped being the bottom team after seven games without defeat and are dreaming of avoiding relegation.
Guerreiro, stellar interior
Dortmund did not show any casualties and dominated the game all the time. Terzic was absolutely right to advance winger Raphaël Guerreiro in the middle of the field as an interior and the Portuguese, the author of the winning goal, warned in the 18th minute with the first clear chance: after receiving long shot from Mats Hummels who left him in front, the goal was blocked by Ralf Fährmann.
Schalke, who retreated knowing that their defensive strength allowed them to aim permanently when they seemed to be outplayed, barely touched the ball but were about to open the scoring when the ball was lost to Rodrigo Zalazar. The Uruguayan gets away but shoots wide before Alexander Meyer goes off and wastes a very clear chance (23′).
Donyell Malen, cautious in general this season, played his best minute and, in a great individual action, he was left alone after turning himself into the center of the local defense, but his shot from point-blank was repelled by Fährmann (29′).
Center-back Schlotterbeck was a surprise scorer
Dortmund’s goal was a matter of time, but it came in the most unexpected way. Its author was center-back Nico Schlotterbeck with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area (37′).
Schalke tie
After the break came another unimaginable game that gave Dortmund total dominance. Schalke equalized in the 49′ after Jude Bellingham’s run down the middle and a counter attack from Zalazar on the right that Marius Bülter finished at the far post into an empty net.
Guerreiro nails it from the angle
Dortmund reacted well and Guerreiro, after receiving from Emre Can, went forward again in a counter which ended by nailing the ball from the corner (59′). Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had the finishing touch as 2-3 slipped by millimeters (64′), but Schalke didn’t give up, they brought out their character fueled by a great atmosphere and the changes went well for them.
Karaman draw
It was a new player, Kenan Karaman, who made it 2-2 with a tight header after a cross from Bülter (78′). From then on, anyone can win. Guerreiro made it 2-3 with a shot that just missed him, but Eder Balanta, another substitute, would have made it 3-2 if not for Meyer.
In the end, the points were shared in a colorful derby that left Schalke happier than Dortmund.
SCHALKE
22

borussia dortmund
Schalke: Fahrmann; Brunner, Yoshida, Jenz, Matriciani; Tom Krauss (Terodde, 74′), Kral; Aydin (Mohr, 74′), Zalazar (Karaman, 68′), Bülter; Frey (Balanta, 74′)
The
Borussia Dortmund: Meyer; Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Ryerson; Bellingham, Can, Guerreiro; Malen (Reyna, 80′), Haller (Modeste, 80′), Bynoe-Gittens (Dahoud, 68′)
Goals: 0-1 Schlotterbeck (38′), 1-1 Bülter (50′), 1-2 Guerreiro (60′), 2-2 Karaman (79′)
Referee: Marco Fritz. Yellow cards to Brunner (55′), Can (90′)
Spectators: 61,571 at Veltins Arena
see the match sheet
Source: La Verdad

I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.