Borussia Dortmund – RB Leipzig: Nuri Şahin’s Tactics Sparked a Victory That Could Transform Dortmund’s Season Momentum (2-1)

Dortmund faced an initial setback despite a promising start, seemingly losing momentum early on. However, a determined performance turned the game around, ending Leipzig’s long unbeaten streak. This victory could be a decisive moment for Nuri Şahin's side, potentially fueling their drive toward a successful season.

Tactical analysis and match report by Fahd Ahmed.

The contrasting narratives surrounding Dortmund and Leipzig before their matchup painted a vivid picture of two teams on divergent paths. Under their new manager, Nuri Şahin, Dortmund has endured its worst start in over a decade, suffering successive losses in recent matches. They conceded a 2-1 defeat to Augsburg in the Bundesliga, lost 1-0 to Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal, and faced a bitter Champions League loss to Real Madrid, where they squandered a 2-0 lead. In stark contrast, Marco Rose's Leipzig entered the match undefeated domestically, mirroring last season’s strong Bundesliga form and sitting level on points with Bayern Munich, the league leaders, ahead of this weekend.

Şahin made two changes to the lineup that faced Wolfsburg, with Donyell Malen and Gregor Kobel replaced by Marcel Sabitzer and Alexander Meyer. This adjustment led Maximilian Beier to shift to the right flank whilst Sabitzer took on a central attacking role alongside Julian Brandt. Meanwhile, Rose capitalized on his squad depth by making five alterations to the team that recently faced St. Pauli, welcoming back key players Loïs Openda, Benjamin Šeško, Amadou Haidara, Antonio Nusa, and Péter Gulácsi.

Although Dortmund has a formidable record at Signal Iduna Park, Leipzig’s solid defense, having conceded just two goals before this encounter, was . . .