3-0 win over Kiel: Niko Kovac steers BVB into Champions League | OneFootball

Everything initially went according to plan in front of 81,365 spectators at a sold-out SIGNAL IDUNA PARK: An early goal by Guirassy from the spot made it 1-0 (3), then Kiel's Johansson was red-carded (8). But the numerically superior Black & Yellows failed to build on that momentum, came up with too few ideas and almost conceded a goal to make it 1-1 shortly before half-time. Sabitzer's goal for 2-0 directly after the restart had a liberating effect. Nmecha then wrapped it up with the goal for 3-0 (73).

The scenario:   BVB went into the matchday in fifth position, while fourth-placed Freiburg and third-placed Frankfurt went head-to-head at the same time. Only Bayern Munich had won more games on home turf (14 victories) than Borussia Dortmund (10 triumphs), who had come away with maximum points in their last three matches at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. No team had racked up fewer away wins than Holstein Kiel (two triumphs), who had however been much improved of late and had lost only one of their last five away matches.

Personnel matters:  Head coach Niko Kovac was without Maximilian Beier (bruised calf), Pascal Groß (suspended) and Nico Schlotterbeck (torn meniscus). He made only one change to the team that ran out 4-2 away winners against Leverkusen last week: Marcel Sabitzer replaced Groß in the starting line-up.

Tactics:   Kovac did not make any changes to the approach either and so – until Kiel's early sending-off at least – the two teams looked similar in terms of their formations on the pitch, in part because Dortmund often transitioned from a 3-4-2-1 into a 3-4-1-2 (as did Kiel) whenever Adeyemi pushed high up in support of Guirassy. BVB predominantly went forward down their left flank. After going down a player, Kiel withdrew deep and at times defended with a six-man back line with Becker keeping a close eye on Brandt.

The match & analysis:Dream start for the Black & Yellows. In the second minute Guirassy played the ball from the left into the box, where Nmecha cut inside Holtby and was fouled. Guirassy stepped up to the penalty spot and fired into the left corner. KSV keeper Dähne did dive the right way, but the shot was too powerful and placed. Shortly afterwards a Kiel player underhit a backpass, Adeyemi pounced on the ball and was brought down by Johansson 27 metres from the opposition goal. He was the last man and was red-carded as a result (8).

BVB controlled proceedings in the period that followed and hardly allowed Kiel into their half of the pitch but also did not get into a dangerous position in front of the opposition goal themselves for another 20 minutes. Sabitzer shot from 20 metres, with Dähne only just managing to turn the powerful strike behind for a corner. Ryerson shot from 16 metres a short while later, and Remberg almost deflected the ball into his own net (25).

Dortmund were on track but not yet over the line due to Freiburg going 1-0 up against Frankfurt. They needed a second goal, or better a third. But they lacked the required precision in their passing, the right tempo and the required penetration against their decimated visitors, who did a good job of keeping the ranks compact even after losing a player and courageously surged forward with five players in the 39th minute. Bernhardsson could not be stopped and his pass from a centre-left position in the box went to Machino, who shot first-time but was thwarted by the foot of Kobel.

The second period started like the first one had: with a Kiel error and an early goal. Machino played a cleared ball back towards his own penalty area in an uncontrolled manner and Brandt laid it off for Sabitzer, who fired through Remberg's legs from 17 metres to make it 2-0. The goal appeared to have a liberating effect. Nmecha (49) and Guirassy (51) narrowly missed out on another goal shortly afterwards. The stadium shook. The shot count stood at 15-3 after 60 minutes, following another long-range Sabitzer strike that again caused Dähne problems. Tolkin almost scored an own goal when his attempted clearance landed on the bar (57).

The decisive goal came in the 73rd minute. A passing sequence in the Kiel half involving multiple players culminated in Svensson threading through to Nmecha, who shot from a centre-left position and made it 3-0. That was followed by celebrations in the stands and then, after the final whistle, on the pitch.

Outlook:   All the players will now depart for a two-week holiday. The internationals will then link up with their national teams, while the other players will prepare in Dortmund for the FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place from 14 June to 13 July. The season opening ceremony takes place on 10 August, with the DFB-Pokal first round to follow the weekend after. The draw will be conducted on 15 June. The Bundesliga will commence its 63rd season on 22 August. The fixture calendar is expected to be published at the start of July.

Bundesliga Matchday 34Saturday 17 May 2025, 15:30 CESTBORUSSIA DORTMUND 3-0 (1-0) HOLSTEIN KIEL

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Süle (Can, 79), Anton, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Nmecha (Reyna, 79), Sabitzer, Svensson – Brandt (Gittens, 85), Adeyemi (Chukwuemeka, 70) – Guirassy (Duranville, 85)KSV Holstein: Dähne – Becker (Ivezic, 88), Johansson, Zec – Rosenboom, Remberg, Holtby (Knudsen, 46), Tolkin – Skrzybski (Geschwill, 46) – Bernhardsson (Harres, 79), Machino (Porath, 69)Substitutes: Meyer, Couto, Özcan – Weiner, Schulz, Arp, Pichler Goals: 1-0 Guirassy (pen. awarded for foul on Nmecha by Holtby, 3), 2-0 Sabitzer (Brandt, 47), 3-0 Nmecha (Svensson, 73)Corners: 6-1 (4-1 at half-time), chance ratio: 8-2 (3-1)Referee: Osmers (Hanover), red card: Johansson (professional foul, 8), yellow cards: Adeyemi, Gittens, Sabitzer – BeckerAttendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: predominantly overcast, 17 degrees