BVB victory over Bayer: The better tactic

Number of Game: 81. Bayer Leverkusen had as much possession in the first 20 minutes of this match. A number that reflects the impressive dominance of the guests in the early stages quite fitting. And what must say? The Dortmundern did not care.

Result of the game: 3: 2 for Borussia Dortmund, and that is in the end the far more important number. The game report is here.

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The first half: "Leverkusen comes here with a very wide cross" recognized Sky commentator Kai Dittmann after a few minutes. If not Bayer, which club should also have such a cross? Leverkusen laced the league leaders in phases, and it took quite a while to guess that this might even have been the intention of BVB coach Lucien Favre. The classic Rope-a-Dope tactic of Muhammad Ali. Let the enemy romp, duck away like a tropical storm that passes by. And then even with a 2-1 lead through goals from Dan-Axel Zagadou (30) and Jadon Sancho (38) to go into the break. The Bayer goal by Kevin Volland (37) you have to accept.

31% - Borussia #Dortmund only possesses 31% of the ball against @ bayer04fussball. If it stays there, it would be low for the Borussia in a BL home game since detailed data collection (2004/05). Passive. # BVBB04 pic.twitter.com/gxCDZhHHcB

The second half: not as spectacular as the first one, but still a lot going on. When Jonathan Tah (75.) answered another BVB goal from Mario Götze (60.) with a 2: 3 lead fifteen minutes before the end, all BVB supporters had to be clear from the experience of the past few weeks that now the balance would fall - as in the home game against 1899 Hoffenheim. But Bayer is not Hoffenheim, even if traditional fans do not make much of a difference there.

Personality of the game: The poor Peter Bosz, who had given such an unlucky interlude in Dortmund, had to endure the question before the game, whether this was now "a return to his homeland". But the concept of home has to be sharpened once more. Otherwise, the Bayer coach actually let his team play as if he were still the BVB coach. With full chapel to the front - and behind does not help God. And if the powder is fired at the beginning and you do not hit, you lose against Heidenheim or Dortmund.

Duel of the Game: Two coaches, two philosophies. This is a football game out, you just look very happy. Lucien Favre, the fine tactician, was right in the end. But if Bayer had used his chances in the beginning, that could have been very bad for the leaders. And then nobody would have praised the tactical brain Favre. That's the way it is.

Quotation of the play: Sky makes during the transmission of their Bundesligaspiele currently promotion for an in-house television series with the motto: "what would you do, if in eight days the world goes under?" Presumably football like Peter Bosz let play. However, it could be that the world is finished after six days.

Awareness of the game: Bayern president Uli Hoeness had announced in the morning in a "double pass" the astonished public, his FC Bayern was after the 1-0 win over Hertha BSC on Saturday now leader. Although he was already there only in second place behind the points same Dortmundern. According to this logic, the Bavarians have now even expanded their leadership by the BVB success.