Borussia Dortmund has to make up a narrow deficit in the Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid. This will probably require qualities that Marcel Sabitzer in particular has.
On Saturday in the Borussia duel, Marcel Sabitzer once again showed his coolness in the 50th minute. He loosely and easily converted a supposed staring kick to make it 3-1 for BVB – keeper Jonas Omlin had jumped in the Gladbach goal without success. What the two of them didn’t realize was that Sabitzer’s third goal that afternoon didn’t count, and referee Florian Badstübner whistled Sabitzer back.
The VAR had contacted us and asked for a closer look. The supposed foul by keeper Omlin wasn’t a foul at all. The referee correctly reversed the decision – Sabitzer stuck to his two goals. “Everything is relaxed,” said the Austrian after the game and explained in his inimitable insult: “We all laughed for a moment. It happens all the time that a funny guy sits up there and takes things like that back.”
Tuesday, 9 p.m.: BVB – Atletico Arrow right quarter-finals Arrow right
Not happy at FC Bayern
It’s clear: Marcel Sabitzer can’t be upset that easily. The Upper Austrian, who was born in the foothills of the Alps, has probably already experienced too much in his football career. Actually, he already seemed to be part of the inventory at RB Leipzig before he moved to FC Bayern in 2021 after seven years at RB.
In Munich he wanted to make another big attack, but somehow Sabitzer never really got there. There were 40 appearances in two seasons, but the now 30-year-old usually only came off the bench during a game or had to go back there early during the game after a starting eleven.
Loan to Manchester didn’t bring anything
A short loan to Manchester United in 2023 didn’t really get him anywhere – so he moved again last summer. And now, in the Borussia Dortmund jersey, he is one of the important personnel at BVB in the “crunch time”, as they call the spring with the big upcoming decisions.
Right now they need experienced and ripped off people like Sabitzer at Black and Yellow. Because Atletico, with its extremely experienced defense, will build a bulwark that will only be able to be broken through with a lot of patience and an eye.
April 16th – Champions League: BVB – Atletico Madrid Arrow right
“Need our heroes”
However, the possible first semi-final entry in eleven years makes BVB forget the strain of the recent deadline rush and new personnel concerns. After the rather flattering 1:2 in the first duel just six days earlier, coach Edin Terzic is hoping for an unforgettable moment of glory: “We need our own heroes in black and yellow.”
Similar to the football teacher, Sebastian Kehl also relies on the seething atmosphere in the sold-out local football cathedral. “We will need the energy that comes from outside. Then I firmly believe that we can handle it,” says the sports director before the showdown against the Spaniards, who are known for their defensive skills.
Additional income is particularly attractive
Unlike in the Bundesliga, in which Borussia, in fifth place, is currently not living up to its own standards, in Europe there is the chance of a prestigious coup and a whopping additional income of at least 12.5 million euros.
A lot will depend on whether coach Terzic’s team sells better than in the first leg, in which there was a threat of a fiasco after a dismal start. Only thanks to Sébastien Haller’s late goal can Borussia continue to hope for entry into the illustrious circle of the four best continental teams.
BVB: Haller is out longer, Sancho is healthy again arrow right
Intense duel expected
But the “Rojiblancos” around former BVB professional Axel Witsel are unlikely to appear as bold and offensive as they did last Wednesday in the Estadio Metropolitano in Dortmund. After all, their coach Diego Simeone, who is known as a hothead, is a big fan of merciless defensive tactics with effective counterattacks. “It will be a very intense game. We will wait for our chances and have to work hard for them,” speculates Kehl.