BVB ran for a long time in vain. Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko was the first to win the Revierderby against Schalke. The failure of captain Marco Reus was bitter for BVB.
Dortmund – Thanks to Youssoufa Moukoko, Borussia Dortmund have fought off threatening moods after two recent defeats and strengthened their dominance in the west of football.
In his supporters’ most important match of the year against arch-rivals FC Schalke 04, the lone 17-year-old talent scored in the 79th minute for a deserved win and his side’s jump to the top of the league. table.
This saw BVB fulfill their role as favorites in the 99th Bundesliga duel between the two traditional sides in front of 81,100 at a sold-out Signal Iduna Park, despite chasing nominations in the past. On the other hand, a week after the first Bochum (3:1) win of the season, disappointment returned to the newly promoted Gelsenkirchen team.
After Manchester’s grueling performance, BVB coach Terzic switched to rotation and ordered four new professionals into the starting line-up: Julian Brandt, Nico Schlotterbeck, Donyell Malen and Marius Wolf. This change had no negative effect on the flow of the game for Dortmund, who took control from the start. The away team, unchanged from the 3-1 win against Bochum, was initially limited to defending.
Despite BVB’s superiority, Schalke’s defense was solid and did not give the opposition any chance to score in the first 25 minutes. The early failure of Marco Reus, who had to be replaced injured in the 30th minute, did not help Borussia. Nevertheless, he was close to making it 1-0 shortly after Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow saved Jude Bellingham’s (33rd) header, which is worth seeing. Even BVB striker Anthony Modeste’s (45 + 1) header near the goal did not change the fact that the spectators got to see a hard-fought but not very attractive Derby in the first half.
After the restart, Dortmund increased the pressure. Striker Malen (46th) failed after a great solo against Schwolow. The situation was similar for Modeste’s replacement Youssoufa Moukoko (66th), who was unable to pass the Schalke goalkeeper at close range. However, the young star did not let it discourage him. After Marius Wolf’s cross, he was there with a header to secure the lead that redeemed BVB, who were no longer in danger in the closing stages.
The feared clashes between the two groups of fans initially did not materialize: according to the police, before the game, which was classified as a risky game, it had remained mostly peaceful.