Borussia Dortmund continues to weaken in the Bundesliga. Gregor Kobel's team lost 4-2 at penultimate-placed Holstein Kiel in the 17th round after conceding three goals in the first half.
14.01.2025, 22:31
14.01.2025, 22:45
SDA
Giovanni Reyna, assisted by Kiel goalkeeper Timon Weiner, and Jamie Gittens in stoppage time could only reduce the deficit for the visitors after an inferior first 45 minutes with some hair-raising carelessness. Even a red card against Kiel's Lewis Holtby in the 86th minute did not help to equalize. Jann-Fiete Arp made it all clear in the 98th minute with the fourth goal from over 40 meters into the empty goal, when Kobel also tried to equalize in the opponent's penalty area.
Blatant weakness away from home
Dortmund are now outside the European Cup places after half a stint. The weaknesses under embattled coach Nuri Sahin are particularly glaring in foreign stadiums: Dortmund have lost six of their nine away games in the championship and won just one.
Sahin himself spoke of an "absolute zero performance" after the game. Managing director Lars Ricken, who in turn backed the coach, did not mince his words in his criticism: "At the moment, with games like this, it's simply embarrassing and shameful and also unworthy of how we represent the black and yellow colors here."
Home wins for Bayern's closest rivals
Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt, the first pursuers of leaders Bayern Munich, celebrated tricky home victories. Champions Leverkusen won 1-0 with captain Granit Xhaka against fifth-placed Mainz, while Frankfurt beat former sixth-placed Freiburg 4-1 after falling behind.
Omar Marmoush, whose winter transfer to Manchester City has become more concrete in recent days, set up Robin Koch's equalizer and Nnamdi Collins' fourth goal to make it 2-1. The Egyptian now has 15 goals and 9 assists in the first half of the season. Aleix Garcia was responsible for Leverkusen's winning goal at the start of the second half.
Brief telegrams and rankings:
Holstein Kiel - Borussia Dortmund 4:2 (3:0). - Goals: 27. Machino 1:0. 32. Harres 2:0. 45. Bernhardsson 3:0. 71. Reyna 3:1. 77. Gittens 3:2. 98. Arp 4:2. - Comments: Borussia Dortmund with Kobel. 86th red card against Holtby (Holstein Kiel).
Bayer Leverkusen - Mainz 05 1:0 (0:0). - Goal: 48. Grimaldo 1:0. - Remarks: Bayer Leverkusen with Xhaka. Mainz 05 with Widmer (from 81).
Eintracht Frankfurt - Freiburg 4:1 (1:1). - Goals: 37. Doan 0:1. 43. Koch 1:1. 65. Marmoush 2:1. 71. Ekitiké 3:1. 81. Collins 4:1. - Comments: Eintracht Frankfurt without Amenda (injured). Freiburg without Ogbus (injured) and Manzambi (not in the squad).
Wolfsburg - Borussia Mönchengladbach 5:1 (1:0). - Goals: 3. Wind (penalty) 1:0. 60. Mæhle 2:0. 75. Arnold 3:0. 83. Nmecha 4:0. 87. Nmecha 5:0. 89. Fukuda 5:1. - Comments: Borussia Mönchengladbach with Elvedi, without Omlin (substitute).
Ranking: 1. Bayern Munich 16/39 (48:13). 2. Bayer Leverkusen 17/38 (41:23). 3. Eintracht Frankfurt 17/33 (40:24). 4. RB Leipzig 16/30 (28:22). 5. Mainz 05 17/28 (30:21). 6. Wolfsburg 17/27 (38:29). 7. SC Freiburg 17/27 (25:30). 8. VfB Stuttgart 16/26 (30:25). 9. Werder Bremen 16/25 (28:29). 10. Borussia Dortmund 17/25 (32:29). 11. Borussia Mönchengladbach 17/24 (26:26). 12. Union Berlin 16/17 (14:21). 13. Augsburg 16/16 (17:33). 14. St. Pauli 16/14 (12:20). 15. Hoffenheim 16/14 (20:29). 16. Heidenheim 16/13 (20:33). 17. Holstein Kiel 17/11 (25:43). 18. Bochum 16/6 (13:37).
