Hertha Berlin blow Borussia Dortmund title hopes hard

Borussia Dortmund finished the year nine points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich after relinquishing a 1-0 lead in the loss to Hertha Berlin.

Hertha Berlin 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Brandt (31 ‘), 1-1 Belfodil 51 ‘(pass: Darida), 2-1 Richter 57 ‘(pass: Maolida), 3-1 Richter 69 ‘(pass: Ekkelenkamp), 3-2 Tigges 83 ‘(pass: Guerreiro)

There was a procession of scoring chances in a furious opening of the debates in the capital. Marwin Hitz was out of breath to turn off Jurgen Ekkelenkamp within six minutes, with Alexander Schwolow facing an effort from Marco Reus moments later. Reus then led a Thomas Meunier wide cross, before Ekkelenkamp cut through the target with Dortmund’s goal at his mercy. Myziane Maolida returned a cross from Peter Pekarik but Ishak Belfodil was ruled offside during preparation following a VAR exam. Julian Brandt cut Haaland’s deflected cross onto Schwolow to send BVB – not quite as usual without Gregor Kobel, Mats Hummels and Jude Bellingham – at the break with nose ahead.

Fortunately for the mid-table Hertha, they quickly learned the mistake of their libertine ways. Halftime was just six minutes in when Vladimir Darida pulverized a pass over Dortmund’s defense for Ishak Belfodil, who escaped Axel Witsel and scored beyond Hitz for 1-1 . Marco Richter added a second to a quick shot with a thunderous finish after Brandt conceded possession to Maolida. Thorgan Hazard had a goal ruled out for offside, before Dahoud got it wrong on an inviting cross from Donyell Malen. After Richter made his second volley after another Brandt error, substitute Steffen Tigges gave BVB a lifeline when he led Raphael Guerreiro’s cross with seven minutes remaining – but Marco Rose’s team couldn’t take it.

Match statistics

• Hertha have won 14 of their 21 points this quarter at home.
• Richter scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season. He’s never had so many in a Bundesliga campaign.
• Belfodil ended a streak of 30 scoreless Bundesliga matches, dating back to May 2019.
• Hertha have only become the third Bundesliga team this season to prevent Haaland from scoring. The Norwegian made only one attempt (off target) during the entire match.
• Brandt scored his fifth goal of the campaign; Tigges put away his second.
• The only other Bundesliga games this season where Dortmund have conceded three goals were their 4-3 win at Bayer Leverkusen and the 3-2 loss to Bayern.

Look: Emre Can: “It’s not okay”

Queues

Herta: Schwolow – Pekarik (Zeefuik 55 ‘), Stark (c), Torunarigha, Mittelstädt – Ascacibar, Darida (Tousart 72’) – Richter (Gechter 72 ‘), Maolida, Ekkelenkamp (Selke 87’) – Belfodil (Plattenhardt 87 ‘)
Unused subtitles: Christensen, Piatek, Jastrzembski, M. Dardai
Outside: Jarstein (knee), Jovetic (calf), Klünter (shoulder), Serdar (knee)
Coach: Tayfun Korkut

Dortmund: Hitz – Meunier (Loup 72 ‘), Can, Pongracic, Schulz (Guerreiro 72’) – Brandt (Tigges 81 ‘), Witsel (Zagadou 72’), Dahoud – Reus (c) (Hazard 58 ‘) – Malen, Haaland
Unused subtitles: Drljaca, Reinier, Passlack, Knauff
Outside: Akanji (knee), Bellingham (suspended), Bürki (ankle), Hummels (disease), Kobel (disease), Morey (knee), Moukoko (muscular), Reyna (match fitness), Schmelzer (knee), Unbehaun (hand)
Coach: Marco rose

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