Borussia Dortmund – SC Freiburg: Dortmund Hit Ten-Man Freiburg For Five (5-1)

Borussia Dortmund maintained their winning start to 2023 with a comprehensive victory over SC Freiburg. The visitors had to play the majority of the game with ten-men but managed to go in level at half-time. The second half, however, was a different story.

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Smoothy.

Prior to kick-off Dortmund and Freiburg were fourth and fifth in the Bundesliga respectively, only separated by goal difference. However, whilst the home side had won all three of their league games since the restart, the away side had been more indifferent with a 6-0 defeat, draw and solitary victory. But regardless of current form, a win for either side would put them level on points with league leaders Bayern Munich who were playing a day later. 

Dortmund made two changes to their previous match, with Marco Reus making his first start since September and Raphaël Guerreiro returning at left back. The hosts set-up in their usual 4-3-3 system with Marius Wolf at right back and Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck the two center-backs. Jude Bellingham, Emre Can and the returning Reus made up the midfield, with Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi playing either side of Sébastien Haller in attack. The center-forward was making his second consecutive competitive start on the rather apt, World Cancer Day.

Freiburg lined up in a 5-3-2 shape and made three changes following their win against Augsburg. The backline remained the same, with wing-backs Kiliann Sildillia and Christian Günter flanking Lukas Kübler, Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart. The midfield was comprised of entirely new . . .