Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations from a controversial win

Initial reactions and observations

• Bayern Munich may have won, but Nagelsmann has not convinced anyone. That was an awful, awful performance and far from anything we could’ve predicted. He’s lucky that Hummels decided to be a double agent for a game because otherwise Dortmund deserved the three points (or at least a draw) today.
• The referee spoiled the game. Bayern’s penalty call was extremely iffy, and BVB had a very close call waved away by VAR when Lucas Hernandez brought down Marco Reus in the box. Super entertaining game, but the scoreline doesn’t seem fair. Dortmund fans have a right to be fuming.
• Dayot Upamecano remains an enigma. He can be so good and so bad in a single game. It’s so hard to get a read on him sometimes. Not looking good for a 40m euro defender.
• Why does Jamal Musiala keep getting subbed on to play in the middle? Put him on the wing, Nags! Let the man dribble.
• If Bayern keep playing like this, teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Real Madrid will rip us apart. Nagelsmann has to answer for this performance. We’ll take the three points, but things HAVE to improve.

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Full time: Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

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78’ — Marco Rose has now been SENT OFF.

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77’ — GOAL! Dortmund fans will be fuming. VAR awards a penalty for a Hummels handball, which Lewandowski converts.

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73’ — Subs: They're dropping like flies! Hernandez twists his ankle and he comes off for Sule.

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66’ — Really bad head-to-head collision between Brandt and Upamecano. Looks like Brandt will be taken off. No word on Upa yet.

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64’ — Subs: Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry on for Goretzka and Sane.

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53’ — Controversy! Dortmund have a penalty shout denied. It looked like it could’ve been given. Oof.

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47’ — Goal. Oh god, this is awful. Haaland curls it in past Manuel Neuer straight after HT.

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45’ — The second half is underway!

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Halftime observations and analysis

• Bayern Munich did well to fight back into a lead after going down 2-1 early. However Dortmund have seen some success by playing their “pass to Haaland” strategy. The defensive shape looks off. Lots to ponder for Nagelsmann in the dressing room.
• Mats Hummels really channeling his inner Bayern fan today.
• Thomas Muller has pulled out his bag of tricks today. Seriously, he’s dribbling and breaking ankles out there. Wow.
• Kingsley Coman’s decision making remains frustrating, but he’s gotten better at scoring goals. No wonder Gnabry can’t get a game. But what about Musiala?
• Niklas Sule maybe should start these games.

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Halftime: Bayern lead 2-1.

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43’ — GOAL! Kingsley Coman scores after a mix-up from BVB. 2-1 to Bayern.

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8’ — GOAL! Lewandowski makes it 1-1 thanks to some aggressive pressing from Muller. What a duo!

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5’ — Goal. Awful start for Bayern, Brandt puts one past Neuer.

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Kickoff: We’re underway in Dortmund! Can Nagelsmann and Bayern find a win?

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Looks like Leon Goretzka was fit enough to start, so no need for Musiala to play in the #8 position. Niklas Sule also starts on the bench with Benjamin Pavard at the right-back position, so maybe we’ll see the pseudo back-three again. Let’s hope Bayern Munich performs better than the last few games.

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There’s really not much to say about this game that hasn’t already been said. Whenever Bayern Munich meet Borussia Dortmund, you just know that a title is at stake.

Julian Nagelsmann has his work cut out this time — BVB will be boosted by the return of Erling Haaland, while Bayern are going to be without their two main midfielders in Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. Per reports, the coach is planning an ambitious plan featuring Jamal Musiala at the #6 position, but who knows how that will work out?

Only a single point separates these two teams in the league table at the moment, so this game will certainly have repercussions on the title race. With neither side quite at full strength, it’s going to take one hell of a performance to secure a win.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Time: 6:30 pm local time, 12:30 pm EST

TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country

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