When a team from the top of the table meets another one from the relegation zone, it usually doesnt hold too much tactical interest due to the huge distance between the teams in performance which results in an easy three points for the stronger team. However, the match between Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart in the Bundesliga was a rare, different case, since it was a difficult victory for Dortmund despite the 3-1 result. This tactical analysis will reveal why Dortmund struggled against a team from the bottom end of the table.
The game was a tactical battle between the two sides as Stuttgart’s approach made a massive task for the home side and caused a goalless first half. It even seemed it would be a 1-1 draw until the 84th minute, but with a clinical end game, Dortmund saved the day and collected the much-needed three points.
Lineups
Both sides were in desperate need of the win, only with different motivation. Dortmund had dropped massive points recently. They had three draws in their last five games in the Bundesliga, with one defeat and a lone victory. Thus if they wanted to keep up with Bayern Munich, they needed to return to winning ways, especially after dropping out of the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart needed points to escape from the relegation zone. They recently made some crucial steps towards achieving that, such as beating a direct rival (Hannover) and drawing with Werder Bremen. Therefore, Stuttgart came into this game with positivity. Instead of the usual 4-4-2 formation though, Markus Weinzierl deployed the less frequently used 5-3-2.
The core of the defence was the usual Ozan Kabak, Benjamin Pavard and Marc Oliver Kempf but this time Andreas Beck and former Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua took the wing-back positions. Alexander Esswein moved higher to create the first line with Nicolas Gonzalez.
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