Marco Rose analyzed the lackluster victory on the Bielefelder Alm soberly, but relieved.

"That was a successful reaction," said the Borussia Dortmund coach after the 3-1 (2-0) win at Arminia Bielefeld, a result with which he "could live very well".

The most important news on Saturday afternoon was: The nightmare of Amsterdam in the Champions League did not affect everyday life in the Bundesliga.

However, the absence of Erling Haaland was obvious despite the three hits on the Alm. Without the injured exceptional striker, who will be out for "a few weeks" due to a hip flexor injury, the black and yellow offensive never got rolling. If this remains the case, it will be difficult to keep up the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich.

Donyell Malen, for example, could not shine in East Westphalia either.

As expected, Rose offered the Dutch newcomer as a representative of Erling Haaland.

Apart from two good chances at the beginning of the game, the 22-year-old dived, even if the commitment could not be written off.

"Donny has really good approaches, but he still has to get used to his physique in the Bundesliga in order to assert himself," said Rose on ARD: "We are working on getting him to march over 90 minutes at some point."

Trials without Haaland

There will be plenty of opportunities in the next two weeks alone that will challenge the troubled BVB more than the harmless Arminia. The cup game against FC Ingolstadt on Tuesday (8:00 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the DFB Cup and at Sport1) is not one of them. But the Bundesliga games against 1. FC Köln (October 30) and RB Leipzig (November 6) are likely. In between, Ajax Amsterdam, who defeated Dortmund 4-0 during the week, comes to Dortmund on November 3rd.

For BVB, these are real tests without Haaland, who recently returned from a thigh injury. Rose is noticeably trying to be calm. "We already have opportunities," said the BVB coach and referred to Ansgar Knauff, Steffen Tigges and Youssoufa Moukoko, who is expected to return soon. The quartet is still goalless in the Bundesliga, which is particularly painful for Malen.

The goals on the Alm had to be scored by others.

Emre Can (31st / foul penalty) and Mats Hummels (45th), who has now hit 14 Bundesliga seasons in a row, paved the way for the break.

Jude Bellingham (72nd) made the preliminary decision with his dance through the Bielefeld defense at the beginning of the final phase.

The fact that Fabian Klos (87./foul penalty) shortened shortly before the end annoyed Rose: "I would have liked us to play to zero one day."

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who had to go out for the break, is only likely to be on Dortmund's long list of injuries for a short time.

"His thigh hit the post and the muscle closed during the break," said Rose and added with a smile: "I hope the injury doesn't take on any Erling traits."