BVB pick up hard-fought 4-2 win in Copenhagen | OneFootball

The Black & Yellows took the lead with their first shot on goal in what was a dominant performance early on: Nmecha found the back of the net with a spectacular strike from 16 metres out (20). Just as Borussia were sniffing around for a second goal, an unfortunate clearance attempt by Bensebaini and Anton led to the equaliser for the home side (33). From then on, it was an open affair until the final quarter of an hour, even though Bensebaini had made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 61st minute. It was only Nmecha's second goal (76th minute) that safely set the course for victory. Silva put the final nail in the coffin three minutes before the end, although Dadason scored a late consolation goal for Copenhagen to bring the final score to 4-2 (90).

The scenario:    This was the fifth meeting between the two clubs (BVB had won three times and drawn once previously). Borussia had kicked off their European campaign with a 4-4 draw with Juventus in Turin followed by a 4-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao. After a 2-2 draw with Leverkusen in their opening match, FC Copenhagen suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Qarabag. It was the Danish club's first defeat in Europe following a seven-game unbeaten run.

Personnel matters:   Three days after the match in Munich and four days before the clash against 1. FC Köln, Kovac changed his starting XI in five positions. Bensebaini, Couto, Bellingham, Brandt and Beier came in to replace Süle, Ryerson, Sabitzer, Gross and Adeyemi (who all moved to the bench). Campbell (U20 World Cup), Can (adductor problems), Duranville (shoulder injury) and Özcan (not registered) were unavailable.

Tactics: Copenhagen deployed an attack-minded 2-4-4 formation in possession, while applying a high press from a 4-3-3 without the ball. The two strikers, Moukoko and Claesson, were joined by a third player from midfield. BVB tried to establish control of possession in their usual 3-4-3 formation, switching between lateral and direct passes to prise apart the opposition's defensive lines.

The match & analysis:The Danes, who had lost only two of their previous 19 home games in the group or league phase of the UEFA Champions League, got off to a good start, with Larsson firing the first warning shot from 12 metres out in the sixth minute, with Kobel able to make the save. But BVB soon took control of the game, not least because the back three pushed high up the park, as in the 20th minute, when Bensebaini's drive deep in the opponent's half led to the opening goal. Via Beier and Guirassy, the ball reached Bellingham in the space behind the defence, who crossed to Nmecha on the 16-metre line. He struck a technically perfect shot, hitting the ball hard and placing it in off the underside of the crossbar to make it 1-0. It was the Black & Yellows' first shot on goal in the game.

At this stage, BVB had the game firmly under control. After half an hour, the possession ratio was 70% to 30% in their favour. After receiving a pass from Nmecha, Beier had a chance to make it 2-0 from a position on the left, but he sent the ball wide of the right-hand post (31). Instead, seconds later, the hosts' second corner led to a surprise equaliser. Larsson's cross was deflected to the feet of Moukoko, who shot low from 12 metres. Kobel was able to parry the ball but couldn't hold on to it. Bensebaini tried to clear the ball off the six-yard line, but he fired it at Anton, whose leg deflected the ball into the goal to make it 1-1 (33). Copenhagen then rode this momentum shift to gain the upper-hand briefly. Suzuki got a sight of goal in the 37th minute, but directed his shot just wide of the left post (37). A game controlled by Dortmund turned into an open duel. It was only towards the end of the first half that BVB established themselves in the opposition's half again, but they failed to create any dangerous chances.

Borussia started the second half with intensity but lacked precision. Too often, the ball ended up with the opposition, in a scramble or out of play. Too often Guirassy was left hanging, not involved – and yet he played a decisive role in the second goal: on Dortmund's fourth corner, he was brought down by Lerager and referee Makkelie awarded a penalty. Bensebaini stepped up and deftly delayed his run-up, waiting for goalkeeper Kotarski to move before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left corner (61). The hosts then demanded a penalty twice – in vain. A tangle between Bensebaini and Moukoko in the 67th minute was a tough decision for the referee in any case.

With a good quarter of an hour to go, Bellingham created Borussia's first chance from open play since Beier's opportunity in the 31st minute. His long-range shot forced Kotarski into a strong save (73). Shortly afterwards, substitute Chukwuemeka intercepted a pass from the Danes and played the ball forward to Nmecha, who got ahead of his marker and shot on goal from 17 metres out, with the ball taking a light deflection on its way into the back of the net to make it 3-1 (76). After that, FC Copenhagen ran out of steam, as the Black & Yellows played out the remaining minutes with confidence, with Fabio Silva scoring to make it 4-1 (87) after a pass from the lively Bellingham. It was the Portuguese forward's first goal in a Borussia jersey. Dadason then pulled one back for the home side in the 90th minute.

Outlook:   On Saturday (kick-off 18:30 CEST), BVB will host 1. FC Köln at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. This will be followed by a series of four away games in Frankfurt (DFB-Pokal), Augsburg (Bundesliga), Manchester (Champions League) and Hamburg (Bundesliga).Boris Rupert

Teams & goals

UEFA Champions League, Matchday 3FC COPENHAGEN 2–4 (1-1) BORUSSIA DORTMUND

FC Copenhagen: Kotarski – Suzuki, Hatzidiakos (75, Garananga), Pereira, Meling (63, Lopez) – Larsson (75, Dadason), Lerager, Clem (81, Zague), Achouri (81, Madsen) – Moukoko, ClaessonBor. Dortmund: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (85, Anselmino) – Couto (63, Ryerson), Nmecha (77, Sabitzer), Bellingham, Svensson – Brandt (63, Chukwuemeka), Beier (63, Fabio Silva) – GuirassySubstitutes: Buur, Runarsson; Sarapata – Meyer, Ostrzinski; Süle, Gross, Adeyemi Goals: 0-1 Nmecha (20, Bellingham), 1-1 Anton (33, own-goal), 1-2 Bensebaini (61, penalty, Lerager foul on Guirassy), 1-3 Nmecha (76, Chukwuemeka), 1-4 Fabio Silva (87, Bellingham), 2-4 Dadason (90, Suzuki)Corners: 4-7 (3-3 at half-time), chances: 4-6 (3-2)Referee: Makkelie (Netherlands), bookings: Lerager, Neestrup, Zague – BensebainiAttendance: 38, 065 (sold-out), weather: rainy and windy, 11 degrees celsius