Borussia Dortmund’s season has begun to stutter in recent weeks. Coming into the fixture against bottom side 1. FC Nürnberg, Die Schwarzgelben were without a win in four games, having suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League as well. Their previous league game had seen them draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, and with Bayern Munich breathing down their necks with a win over Augsburg, Dortmund desperately needed a win from this game.
Lineups
Boris Schommers sent his side out in a 4-1-4-1 formation aimed at stifling Dortmund. Ondrej Petrak sat just ahead of the centre-backs, while the full-backs rarely looked to get forward.
Lucian Favre had a number of players missing for this game, with captain Marco Reus and Chelsea-bound winger Christian Pulisic missing out. Raphael Guerreiro started on the left wing, as Abdou Diallo was shifted out to left-back and Marius Wolf came in at right-back. Maximillian Philipp replaced Reus in the lineup, as Mario Gotze led the line.
Nürnberg frustrate Dortmund
The tactical pattern of this match was established from the very start; Dortmund monopolised possession, while Nürnberg retreated into their own half, looking to protect their own goal.
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