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
He is part of a breed of striker who are seriously underrated in the modern game, Giroud, Mandzukic, Dzeko are all underrated. Only Lewandowski is that type of striker who gets the recognition he deserves, but Giroud is a class act with a great goal/game ratio, he takes a lot stick that is undeserved.
A(z) Giroud nevű tábla 495 legjobb képe 2019-ben | Arsenal
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group A - Montenegro v England - Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro - March 25, 2019 England's Ross Barkley celebrates scoring their second goal wit
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - nst.com.my
Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked as Roma coach after the team crashed out of the Champions League, the Italian club confirmed on Thursday, with former boss Claudio Ranieri tipped to replace him. Roma had taken a 2-1 advantage to Porto for the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday but fell 4-3 on aggregate […]
Ranieri lined-up as Roma sack Di Francesco after Champions
Search through thousands of Names that mean 'sun' - Meaning of Names is the place to come for the best resources for Names that mean 'sun'
100 most popular Hispanic baby names of 2011 | BabyCenter
Tottenham are making quick progress towards the completion of their new stadium at White Hart Lane as they look to complete the lift of the roof in the coming weeks. Spurs want to return from
Liverpool hero makes bizarre Tottenham Hotspur Stadium claim
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning semi-finals, as he laughs off 'unlucky' tag Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during training in Madrid. PHOTO: REUTERS
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/football-klopp-says-he-is-a-world-record-holder-at-winning-semi-finals-as-he-laughs-off-unlucky-tag/
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning semi-finals, as he laughs off 'unlucky' tag Posted on 05/31/2019 MADRID (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions he is an unlucky manager as he looks to halt an unfortunate run of ending up on the losing side in his last six finals as a coach when he leads Liverpool into
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning
MADRID: Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport reported that the leaders of La Liga had agreed a deal to take Boateng on loan until the end of the
Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports - France - RFI
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190121-boateng-set-shock-barcelona-move-reports
Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport
Kevin-Prince Boateng set for shock loan move to Barcelona
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hinted he could look to change Paul Pogba's role after Manchester United laboured to a 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday. "It was more a draw, performance-wise. We'll
'United Almost in the Driving Seat to Finish in the top Four
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win. 2 Min Read. Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Belgium - GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus - March 24, 2019 Belgium's
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
This program is read by Richard Armitage. With a final twist that will shock even his most ardent listeners, Heads You Win is #1 New York Times bestseller Jeffrey Archer's most ambitious and creative work since Kane and Abel. Leningrad, Russia, 1968. Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and
Everton 1-0 Man Utd - Fellaini Heads Toffees To Surprise Win
Real Madrid 1-4 Ajax (3-5 agg): Dusan Tadic shines as reigning champions crash out in humiliation after visitors put on stunning display to claim historical win at Bernabeu and progress to the
Manchester United vs. Manchester City live updates, score: Guardiola needs win to move back into first Manchester derby could shake up the race for the Premier League title and top four spots
Manchester United vs. Manchester City - Football Match Report
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen