28.11.2009

Home win against top team

Borussia ran out 1-0 winners against Schalke 04 on Saturday evening thanks to a very well created goal scored by Marco Reus.

Coach Michael Frontzeck’s side took the momentum from the recent four-game unbeaten run with them into this match in almost perfect fashion. They succeeded in putting down a first major marker during a lively opening phase. In the fifth minute, Dante hit a diagonal pass over a full 50 metres, which Juan Arango took superbly. But even better than the Venezuelan’s ball control was the cross-field pass he hit a couple of steps later to Marco Reus, who then had an easy task of steering the ball past Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer to put Borussia 1-0 ahead.

Schalke needed a good quarter of an hour to recover from this setback, while Borussia continued to take the game to the visitors with gusto, albeit without creating any further danger in front of goal themselves. In defence VfL were doing a sturdy job, with central defenders Roel Brouwers and Dante in particular constantly keeping a tight grip on the opposing forwards. Although the game was being played increasingly in Borussia’s half, Schalke failed to exploit their territorial superiority. The VfL back line stood firm and the only chances the visitors managed were an off-target long-range shot from Rafinha (27 minutes), a low shot from Kuranyi (28) and another Kuranyi effort (36) that went wide. Schalke were not imposing themselves enough and Borussia were able to relieve the pressure with counter attacks, especially through lively wide men Juan Arango and Marco Reus.

Brouwers nearly gives himself a birthday present

After the break, Borussia got off to the same sort of lightning start as in the first half. Juan Arango pinched the ball off Rafinha and, coming in from the left, closed in on the Schalke goal, only to be denied by Neuer (50). Nine minutes later, Brouwers was a hair’s breadth away from giving himself a birthday present, as he got to an Arango free kick ahead of Neuer, but headed the ball just over the bar. Schalke were still failing to create many dangerous situations, with shots from Farfan (61) and Moravek (75) being something of an exception. As Borussia too were primarily concentrating on keeping the big-name Schalke attack in check, the second half was above all a tense affair. In the closing minutes, Schalke increased the pressure and did then manage a few efforts on goals. However, Höwedes’ left foot shot (85) that went wide from a promising position was somehow symptomatic of the visitors’ performance on the evening.

In terms of fighting spirit Borussia put on a faultless show. The clean sheet at the back was due not least to the outstanding central defensive duo of Brouwers and Dante and thanks to efficient finishing once again in front of goal Borussia were able to celebrate a home win against one of the league’s top teams.

Borussia: Bailly – Levels, Brouwers, Dante, Jaurès – Bradley, Marx – Reus, Arango (Kleine, 86) - Matmour (Meeuwis, 89) – Friend (Bobadilla, 71).

Schalke: Neuer - Höwedes, Matip, Bordon, Westermann – Moritz (Altintop, 60) - Rafinha, Schmitz – Rakitic (Moravec, 46) – Farfan (Holtby, 85), Kuranyi.

Goals: 1-0 Reus (5)

Yellow cards: Rafinha, Moravek, Neuer, Bordon, Holtby.

Attendance: 54,057 (sold out)

Referee: Wolfgang Stark