After 2-0 Defeat To Chelsea, Dortmund Fear Loss Of Momentum

Despite winning its home leg against Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund has been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. Dortmund’s defeat to Chelsea ended a ten game win streak across all competitions. The Black and Yellows lost 2-0 at Stanford Bridge thanks to goals by Raheem Sterling (43’) and Kai Havertz (53’).

Havertz’s penalty goal, in particular, was a significant discussion point. The Dortmund players were first unhappy that Dutch referee Danny Makkelie first awarded a penalty and then had the penalty retaken after both Chelsea and Dortmund players encroached early.

“The referee,” Dortmund midfielder Emre Can said when asked by Amazon Prime what Dortmund’s major problem was on Tuesday night. “It was the referee’s fault. Absolutely arrogant.”

But by the letter of the law, Makkiele was correct with both his decisions. Marius Wolf clearly left his hand out while turning, increasing the size of his body, leaving Makkiele with no choice but to point to the spot after reviewing the play in the VAR zone.

Makkiele then had the penalty retaken after Havertz missed. Again Dortmund players protested, but again it was the right decision by the Dutch referee. Although players from both teams encroached, Law 14, paragraph 2 states if players from both teams offend, the kick is retaken.

Can’s comments then are not just unjustified; they are also misleading in another form. Makkiele’s decisions may have led to Chelsea’s second goal. But they were not the reason Dortmund has exited the Champions League at the round of 16 stage.

“I just felt that they created a lot more,” Dortmund’s star Jude Bellingham said after the game. “They were more dangerous and played with more intent than us. “I’ve just looked at our possession stats, and it says that we have had more, but it didn’t feel like we had it in the places where we could hurt them.”

Bellingham’s observations were certainly correct. Dortmund had 60% possession and completed 80% of its 390 passes—Chelsea completed just 74% of its 233 passes. In some ways, it was almost the reverse of the first leg when Chelsea had the majority of the ball, but it was Dortmund that would that would score the only goal.

The fact that Dortmund was seemingly in control but still gave up most of the chances (4-1 big chances) and lost the xG battle 1.97 to 0.94 will be the most disappointing aspect of the performance for head coach Edin Terzic. Another aspect will be that Dortmund, who was already without the injured goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and star striker Karim Adeyemi, also ended up losing Julian Brandt.

With Brandt, Kobel, and Adeyemi, Dortmund was without the three best performers in 2023, and their absence forced the Black and Yellows into a style of play that they were clearly uncomfortable with playing. But the biggest question is what will be Dortmund’s reaction to the defeat?

Dortmund travels to Gelsenkirchen where they will face their archrivals Schalke 04 on Saturday for the Bundesliga Topspiel. Schalke is a relegation candidate but would certainly love to drive home another dagger, beat Dortmund, and end the Black and Yellow’s title ambitions.

Not surprisingly, Bellingham was quick to shift the focus to the Bundesliga title race, where Dortmund is even on points with Bayern Munich. “Yeah, I was just saying to the lads: ‘Don’t let it ruin the momentum that we’re building,’” Bellingham said after the Chelsea game. “Obviously, it’s awful that we’ve gotta go out after we done so well to earn a result at home, but that’s the game. It’s disappointing, but there’s a lot to still play for, for us.”

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth