Beier scores in the 96th minute to snatch a 1-0 win over Köln | OneFootball

The visitors' potent counter-attacks caused the Black & Yellows lots of problems in the first half. BVB were only able to make an impact in attack on a few occasions. Dortmund increased the pressure significantly in the second half. It developed into a one-sided game, but Köln keeper Schwäbe stood his ground impressively, making seven shots. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, however, Maximilian Beier scored the late winner for BVB.

The scenario:Fourth against sixth. BVB could call on their good home record (eight wins and one draw across all competitions this season), while FC could draw on their strong away form: seven of their 11 points had been earned in away games. However, they had only won once in Dortmund over the past 34 years.

Personnel matters:  There were four changes to the starting XI that won 4-2 in Copenhagen on Tuesday: Julian Ryerson, Pascal Gross, Karim Adeyemi and Carney Chukwuemeka replaced Yan Couto, Jobe Bellingham, Julian Brandt and Maxi Beier, all of whom moved to the bench.

Tactics:   BVB, playing in their usual 3-4-3 formation, attempted to put pressure on the visitors and force them to lose possession with a high press. Köln – playing in a 3-4-1-2 formation with centre forward Bülter behind El Mala and Kaminski – sought a direct route to the Dortmund goal when in possession, always via El Mala on the left, and defended compactly in a 5-3-2 formation.

The match & analysis:BVB had major problems keeping a lid on El Mala, who won two corners for the visitors in the first five minutes and, in the 19th minute, raced clear on goal after his teammates won the ball deep in their own half and played a through ball to the left wing. Ramy Bensebaini did well to get back and make an important challenge just before El Mala got his shot away. The ball was deflected just past the right post. El Mala popped up in another dangerous position in the 35th minute, after a misunderstanding between Ryerson and Waldemar Anton, but much to the relief of the BVB defence he blasted the ball over the bar from the edge of the area.

Apart from a blocked Anton shot following a corner in the 10th minute, the Black & Yellows were initially unable to pose any threat despite having a high percentage of possession in and around the Köln penalty area. Their build-up play was too slow overall. Instead of taking on their man, players hesitated and passed sideways. Adeyemi was the first to show some courage: in the 34th minute, he beat two defenders on the right, but the angle was tight and Schwäbe had little trouble saving his shot. Three minutes later, Felix Nmecha tried his luck from distance, but missed the goal by a few inches.

With Krauss replacing Bülter, FC adopted an even more defensive approach at the start of the second half. BVB grew in confidence and started to generate some dangerous situations. First, Serhou Guirassy was shoved in the six-yard box and as a result failed to get on the end of Gross's cross (52), then Lund pulled down Ryerson (54), but referee Brand turned a blind eye on both occasions. Between these two scenes, BVB had their first big chance: Guirassy failed to beat Schwäbe from six metres out following a cross into the area by Nmecha (53). On the hour mark, Nmecha played a one-two with Guirassy and fired on goal from 15 metres: Schwäbe made a strong save to turn the ball out for a corner.

Nmecha was the driving force in what remained a scrappy, tough game. By the 72nd minute, the visitors had used up all their substitutions, with five fresh sets of legs on the pitch. The enormous effort had taken its toll. In the 81st minute, Hübers appeared to suffer a serious knee injury. He had to be carried off the pitch. Köln were down to ten men in the final stages. The match was now being played almost entirely around the FC penalty area. Julian Brandt forced Schwäbe into another save from distance (90).

Seven minutes of added time were given. Beier tried his luck, but Schwäbe was there again (90+3). The 15th corner brought relief: it was cleared, but Schlotterbeck brought the ball back into the box. Fabio Silva was blocked, Beier was in the right place at the right time, his shot was slightly deflected and ended up in the back of the net for the winning goal.

Outlook:The Black & Yellows now face four away games in quick succession, with matches in Frankfurt (on Tuesday in the DFB-Pokal), Augsburg (Friday in the Bundesliga) and Manchester and Hamburg the following week.Boris Rupert

Teams & goals

Bundesliga, Matchday 8BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1–0 (0-0) 1. FC KÖLN 

Bor. Dortmund: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Gross (68, Sabitzer), Nmecha (85, Brandt), Svensson (85, Bellingham) – Adeyemi (79, Fabio Silva), Chukwuemeka (68, Beier) – Guirassy1. FC Köln: Schwäbe – Hübers, Martel, Özkacar (56, Heintz) – Sebulonsen, Johannesson (72, Schmied), Huseinbasic (72, Ache), Lund – Bülter (46, Krauss) –Kaminski, S. El Mala (72, Maina)Substitutes: Meyer, Couto, Süle, Anselmino – Zieler, Castro-Montes, Kainz, Waldschmidt Goals: 1-0 Beier (90+6, Fabio Silva)Corners: 17-2 (4-2 at half-time), chance ratio: 8-4 (3-4)Referee: Brand (Schwebheim), bookings: Guirassy, Beier – Sebulonsen, JohannessonAttendance: 81,365 (sold-out), weather: Dry by kick-off following heavy rain. 09 degrees celsius.