UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Borussia Dortmund 1 - 1 Anderlecht December 10, 2014 03:45 Signal-Iduna-Park, Dortmund Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco LIVE COMMENTARY Full time in Signal-Iduna-Park. Dortmund claim the top spot in Group D but it was a little too close for comfort in the end as they only manage a point at home in a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht. The match was stale at times but had spurts of quality in which both sides looked capable of scoring. Ciro Immobile and Aleksandar Mitrovic were on the scoresheet for their respective sides in a match that probably favoured the home side on the whole, who came up against an in-form Silvio Proto in goal. Last-16 for Dortmund and Europa League for Anderlecht, who can be proud of their Champions League campaign. Im Martin Macdonald, thanks for joining us, see you next time! 90 To be fair to the home side that is exactly what they are doing at the moment. Subotic and Ginter are seeing the most of the ball in central areas and they are just playing short stabbing passes into the middle of midfield. 89 Substitution Aleksandar Mitrović Michaël Heylen 88 Dortmund just need to remain calm and not do anything daft here. They have top spot in this group in the bag if the results in the group remain the same, so some cool heads are required out there! 86 Jurgen Klopp reacts quickly to that goal and withdraws Kagawa, with Kuba coming on, wholl add just a little more legs in midfield. Dortmund batting to remain top of the group here! They cant surrender it at this stage can they?! 85 Substitution Shinji Kagawa Jakub Blaszczykowski 84 Assist Anthony Vanden Borre 84 Goal Aleksandar Mitrović GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL FOR ANDERLECHT! A LATE EQUALISER!! Vanden Borre exchanges a lovely one-two with a team-mate down the right wing and swings a fantastic cross to the back post for Mitrovic, who out-muscles Grosskreutz to head home! One-one! 82 Immobile almost gives the Dortmund faithful a heart attack as he miss-hits his clearance from the front post at a corner kick! The loose ball drops for Tielemans who fires at goal but Langerak reads it and then throws out to Mkhitaryan! 80 Mkhitaryan!! It just is not happening for the Armenian at the moment! In his latest attempt at goal he flashes a strike off target whilst in a great position inside the box. Definitely not his day so far but still time to grab a goal! 79 Substitution Ibrahima Conte G. Cyriac 78 Second change from The Belgian side as they attempt to salvage something from there last Champions League game of the season. Conte is withdrawn and hell be replaced by Cyriac. Nothing to lose now! 76 Immobile is still full of running up top. The former Torino man has attempted to press from the front for the majority of the match and he keeps it up as he hunts Deschacht down looking for possession. The Anderlecht defender eventually does well to find a team-mate. 75 Substitution Marcel Schmelzer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 74 Second switch of the match from Dortmund and it sees Schmelzer leave the action to be replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. This change will likely see Grosskreutz moving back to left-back or perhaps right with Durm switching flanks. 72 Just a couple of signs in the last few minutes that Anderlecht may be willing to make a game of this for the last portion of the match. Praet, who has been relatively quiet so far, is looking hungrier for the ball in central areas. 70 The latest entry from the Mkhitaryan/Proto feud now. Immobile gets in behind and looks to smash a strike at goal, only for it to be brilliantly blocked by Deschacht. The loose clearance finds the Armenian who blasts at the front post but but again he is denied by the keeper. 69 Substitution Sacha Kljestan Yoeri Tielemans 68 The visitors attempt to shake things up a little as they make their first substitution of the match. Kljestan is withdrawn and hell be replaced in the middle of the park by Youri Tielemans. 66 Substitution Ilkay Gündogan Oliver Kirch 66 Anderlecht has not really come out of the blocks in the first 20 minutes or so of this second half. Dortmund came out with a purpose and this is maybe due to the fact they saw Arsenal banging in the goals against Galatasaray. The Belgian side, meanwhile, are playing like a team with, well, nothing to play for. 64 First change of the match here and it comes from Jurgen Klopp. Gundogan, who has controlled this game for the most part in central areas, is given a rest and hell be replaced by Oliver Kirch. 62 That goal from Immobile should probably ease some stress inside the stadium for the home side here. Vitally, if they draw tonight they can still qualify as group winners even with Arsenals 3-0 lead at Galatasaray. They are bossing the match at the moment though. 60 KAGAWA! How close was that?! The former Manchester United man, who played an integral part in that goal, looks to make it two in two minutes for Dortmund as he smashes a wicked strike towards goal from 25 yards out, but the attempt goes just north of the bar! Unlucky! 58 Assist Nuri Sahin 58 Goal Ciro Immobile GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL FOR DORTMUND!! THE HOSTS TAKE THE LEAD! Kagawa turns sharply in the middle of the park and plays inside to Sahin. The Turk bursts forward and releases Immobile, who takes a touch by the defender before rifling a strike into the top corner! Great goal! One-nil! 56 Deschacht steps out of defence a few strides and picks out Praet with an absolutely sensational left-footed diagonal pass. The latter chests down with an assured touch before bursting into the box, but Ginter is well-placed to make the challenge for Dortmund. 54 Thats a superb tackle from NSakala. Durm goes on a rare venture forward down the right and looks to lift the ball over the Frenchman, who comes in to take possession cleanly with a well-times slide tackle just on the touchline. Conte collects and looks to initiate a counter. 52 This match is developing into quite the feud between Mkhitaryan and Proto. There is only one winner at the moment though as the Anderlecht keeper denies the Armenian with ANOTHER solid save, this time from a strike from the edge of the box. 50 Yet another save from Proto! Mkhitaryan drifts inside from his left wing position again and makes his way into the box before unleashing a left-footed shot at goal. Another stop you would expect him to make, but the Anderlecht keeper keeps it at 0-0! 48 Kagawaaaaa! Close one! The Japan international, who had a pretty quiet opening 45 minutes, latches on to a loose pass through the middle and shifts on to his left foot before lashing a strike at goal, but it goes the wrong side of the post! 46 We are back under way in this Group D clash! Half time in Dortmund. Klopps men have arguably been the better side so far as they have enjoyed the majority of possession in central areas, but Anderlecht have looked a threat too and missed the chance of the match when Mitrovic went through on goal. Definite goals in this but both sides playing within themselves a little. Interesting second period in store! 44 Small penalty claim for Anderlecht as Mitrovic goes on a marauding run into the box only to go down under a couple of loose legs inside the box from Dortmund. There didnt look to be too much contact though and the ref rightly plays on. 42 Great chance missed by Anderlecht! NSakala drives to the byline and stands a cross to the back post, which Mitrovic heads back into the danger area near the edge of the box. Kljestan meets the lose ball on the half volley but sends his attempt inches over the bar! Unlucky but maybe should have done better! 40 It is unclear to see whether this has been a definitive tactic from Dortmund, but they do seem to be targeting Mbemba for passes in behind. Immobile and Mkhitaryan are constantly making runs to the back of the Anderlecht man, but he has remained relatively solid so far. One lapse in concentration is all it takes though. 38 Durm takes the ball for a walk down the touchline and fails to spot a run inside from any of his team-mates so attempts a pretty tough ball into the channel for Grosskreutz. The latter tries his best to get on the end of it, but there was too much on the pass. Goal kick to the Belgian side. 36 Dortmund have been dominant in the game in the past 10 minutes or so as they attempt to find an opening past this Anderlecht defence. Gundogan and Sahin in particular have looked confident on the ball, but the hosts just require a little more quality in the final third. 34 Conte gets the chance to stretch his legs down the right wing for the first time tonight and ends up getting into an advanced position just to the right of the box. He spots the run of Mitrovic and teases a cross into the box, but the striker just cant stretch out his leg enough to make any contact, which allows Langerak to pounce! 32 Two saves in two minutes from Proto!! Mkhitaryan latches on to a lovely pass through the middle and finds himself in a footrace with Vanden Borre, which forces him slightly to the left. The Armenian manages to rifle a shot away but the goalkeeper parries away to the side! 30 SAVE FROM PROTO! Immobile gets into an extremely useful position inside the box and looks to catch out the Anderlecht keeper with a lashed strike towards the front post, but the latter has his wits about him and manages to tip over the bar! Not before giving his defence a talking to though! 28 Some lovely interplay down the right from Anderlecht! It is all one-touch involving Vanden Borre, Praet, and Conte and the visitors get down the right channel before the right-back swings a cross in to Mitrovic. In the end it is good defending from Subotic who heads away. 26 Immobile has been playing on the shoulder of the last defender for most of the match so far and on this occasion he gets in behind before rushing towards goal. Mbemba shows an excellent turn of pace to get back in a defensive position though and makes a block on the eventual shot from the Italian. 24 Mitrovic breaks away from his position at centre forward to collect the ball down the channel. He manages to find space to pick out the onrushing Mbemba inside the box, but the defenders header ends up looping in the air which allows Langerak to come off his line and catch. 22 Just about approaching the midway point of this first half in Dortmund and it has been a relatively even clash so far. The home side have enjoyed the majority of possession and look bright in spells going forward, but Anderlecht have displayed that they pose a real threat in the final third themselves. Still no goals though! 19 Anderlecht have had there moments of danger going forward but they just need to look after their passing a little more in the middle. Dortmund look more than capable of scoring when they collect the ball in useful areas and then counterattack at pace. 17 Immobile collects possession in the No.10 position but attempts to be too elaborate with a chipped pass over the top of the Anderlecht defence. Mkhitaryan picks up the cleared ball down the left flank and fizzes a cross in, but again the visitors manage to make the block. 15 Kagawa receives the ball to feet and then drops inside to find some room to manoeuvre. The Japan international then drills a superb pass out to the right wing for Grosskreutz who takes a touch before whipping a cross into the box, but Deschacht is back in a defensive position to head away. 13 Immobile cleverly runs into the left channel to collect a lovely pass from Gundogan. He Italian shifts the ball past Vanden Borre who doesnt take to kindly to this and commits the foul near the touchline. Rather needless from the former Portsmouth defender. 11 VITAL SAVE BY LANGERAK! A miscommunication at the back from the home side sees Mitrovic run through one-on-one with the Dortmund keeper, who dashes off his line to make a solid block with his chest! Good stop but Anderlecht failed to make the most of that chance! 9 Grosskreutz opens up his stride down the right wing and strives to get on the end of a pass near the byline. He does so but just cant manage to muster up enough power to get it beyond Proto, who takes the pressure off his defence with the claim at the front post. 7 Acheampong looks to take on Durm at right-back and bursts down to the byline before sweeping a deflected cross into the box. Subotic is positioned well to clear away from danger at the front post, which is important as Mitrovic is lurking for any scraps. 5 Great save by Proto!!! A mistake in midfield from the visitors allows Dortmund to counterattack at pace and the ball eventually ends up with Immobile, who shakes off the attentions of his marker to get a smashed shot away. It goes straight at the keeper, who actually does well as there was plenty of power behind the attempt! 3 Grosskreutz typically attempts to get in behind the Anderlecht defence and latch on to a diagonal pass. The German does so but just cant manage to take the ball under control after an initial decent chested touch. 1 We are under way in Signal-Iduna-Park! How will Group D end? -The players have took to the field now and we await the Champions League theme! -Just the three alterations from Anderlechts 4-2 loss at the weekend. Tielemans, Kabasele, and Cyriac drop out with NSakala, Dendoncker, and Mitrovic coming into the starting XI tonight. -Dortmund make a sizeable six changes to their previous line-up. Piszczek, Hummels, Kehl, Bender, Adrian Ramos and Aubameyang make way for Durm, Ginter, Sahin, Kagawa, Grosskreutz, and Immobile. -Anderlecht (4-2-3-1): Proto; Vanden Borre, Mbemba, Deschacht, NSakala; Dendoncker, Kljestan; Conte, Praet, Acheampong; Mitrovic. -Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Langerak; Durm, Ginter, Subotic, Schmelzer; Sahin, Gundogan; Grosskreutz, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan; Immobile. TEAM NEWS... -In the event of a draw tonight in Signal-Iduna-Park, there is only one way in which Dortmund would fail to top the group and that is if Arsenal can win by a six-goal margin versus Galatasaray. An unlikely scenario, but Klopp will still want his side to get the job done themselves with a win. -The previous clash between the sides in Group D came in October and it saw Dortmund run out 3-0 winners. A strike from Ciro Immobile and a double from Adrian Ramos sealed the victory on that occasion as the German side took the points comfortably. -Albeit much better than Dortmunds, Anderlechts home form has also been below average. Besnik Hasis side have won just eight out of 18 games in the league and are currently placed third behind Kortrijk and Club Brugge. The head coach of the Belgian side this weekend spoke of his unhappiness at players performance during the recent 4-2 loss to Mouscron-Peruwelz, so he will be hoping for some kind of reaction tonight. -Domestically, it has been a miserable season for Die Borussen. Up until Fridays win over Hoffenheim, they had won just three games in the league all season, but that well-timed 1-0 result has saw them lifted out of the relegation zone. -Jurgen Klopps men were flying in the Champions League up until matchday five. Dortmund had notched up four wins from as many games until two weeks ago when they were comfortably defeated 2-0 away to Arsenal; a result which still puts their position at top spot under threat. -It has been an arduous process for both outfits, but both Dortmund and Anderlecht now more or less know what their European fates will be after the winter break. The Belgian side cannot qualify for the last-16 but are four points clear of Galatasaray, which means they have secured Europa League football. The Bundesliga team, on the other hand, have indeed qualified, but are still only two points clear of second-placed Arsenal, which means they are still battling for top spot. The last round of fixtures in Group D still very much promising! -Im Martin Macdonald, and Ill be taking you through the action! -Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Champions League Group D clash between Borussia Dortmund and Anderlecht from Signal-Iduna-Park!
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:03:13 +0000
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