DORTMUND • It was just three months ago when Borussia Dortmund were revelling in the Christmas cheer, having entered the winter break with a commanding nine-point lead in the Bundesliga.
That feel-good factor has since eroded as the cushion vanished, following a shock 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Augsburg last Friday that allowed German champions Bayern Munich to pull level at the top on 54 points.
With just one win in their last seven matches, it could get worse for Dortmund, who have to overcome a three-goal deficit against Tottenham for their Champions League last-16 return leg today.
Only Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruna and Roma have managed to overturn a deficit of three goals or more in the knockout phase of the Champions League era.
And, while Spurs have gone without a win in their last three games, the margin will enable Mauricio Pochettino's men to sit back and hit Dortmund on the break.
With glaring defensive errors increasingly creeping into the home side's game, captain Marco Reus has admitted "this is a phase we need to stabilise quickly or things will get very tight".
13Â
German league goals for Dortmund captain Marco Reus, who missed the first leg against Tottenham.
Goalkeeper Roman Burki added: "We keep conceding strange goals, which are actually easy to defend. I had to pull myself together not to tear anyone's head off."
Despite the Augsburg defeat representing the low point of their season, Dortmund will be able to call on Reus, their joint-top scorer on 13 league goals, against Spurs after the German international missed the Wembley game through injury.
While coach Lucien Favre remains hopeful, he knows his players cannot give away any chances.
He said: "We must stay calm and not make another mistake."
Former Germany defender Matthias Sammer, an external adviser at Dortmund, has also urged the team to show more character, insisting they had to "put in 90 to 95 per cent (focus), (as) it's not enough to be (at) 60 or 70 per cent".
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
DORTMUND V TOTTENHAM
Singtel TV Ch110 & StarHub Ch214, tomorrow, 3.55am
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday. Michy
Eden Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium
Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier. Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying
Football: Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020
sports-life-news.com/soccer/football-depay-fires-dutch-past-belarus-in-euro-2020-qualifying-opener/
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AFP) - Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday (March 21) despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10
Football: Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020
Football: Ikhsan Fandi focused on task as he begins Norway adventure. Ikhsan Fandi on trial with Raufoss against top-tier Norwegian club Mjondalen on Saturday. He is the first local-born
Ikhsan Fandi News from Singapore, Latest Ikhsan Fandi News
news.trendingnews.co.in/singapore/ikhsan-fandi
Football: Ikhsan Fandi focused on task as he begins Norway adventure The Straits Times. Singapore's Ikhsan Fandi has vowed to make an impact in Norway, after signing a two-year contract with Norwegian second-tier team Raufoss on Saturday.
Things Singapore does better than anywhere else - Hoffeldt.net
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their third goal. Juan Medina, Reuters MADRID -- Karim Benzema stopped Real Madrid's underwhelming La Liga season going from bad to worse on Sunday after firing a last-minute winner to hand the European champions a barely-deserved 3-2 winner over bottom club Huesca.
Karim Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League bid bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
DPMM FC head coach Adrian Pennock heaped praise to his charges after his side held Albirex Niigata (S) to a goalless draw in the AIA Singapore Premier League at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore on Friday. "I can't praise (the players) enough. We know it was going to be difficult. They haven't lost here since 2015.
Singapore Premier League Team of The Week 5: Irfan, Shahril
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been charged with committing sexual assault on board a train, police said on Monday. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United player Paul
Paul Gascoigne: Ex-England ace to face trial over train sex
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with
The 17th Asian Cup finals will be the biggest in the 62-year history of the tournament but even with 24 teams battling it out
Usual suspects in the frame at expanded Asian Cup - Usual
Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette free to face Rennes as UEFA
We're not favourites against Germany: Van Dijk
Five great Champions League comebacks. a penalty during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match FC Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain FC at the Camp Nou stadium in
Great football comebacks to inspire Liverpool in Champions
France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2016 Group A soccer match between France and Romania, at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, north of Paris
Mbappe gets 30 caps in record time - BeSoccer
United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de Gea. Manchester United's perfect record under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says De Gea
0 comments:
Post a Comment