Julian Brandt and Co. hesitantly crept up to the fans who had traveled with them, their frustration after this violent abrasion at RB Leipzig was deep. “It definitely hurts, it was nothing today,” said frustrated goalkeeper Gregor Kobel on Sky. And Brandt complained after Borussia Dortmund’s bitter 1:4 (1:2) defeat against their feared opponents and direct competitors: “I feel like crap, it really annoys me.”
Four days before the Champions League clash against Paris St. Germain and Kylian Mbappe, BVB ultimately lost in a fast-paced exchange of blows. Fourth place is a long way off for the Black and Yellows in the final stretch of the Bundesliga, but Dortmund are still likely to have their ticket to the premier class.
It was “a shitty feeling,” said Kobel after the four goals conceded by Lois Openda (23rd/according to video evidence), Benjamin Sesko (45th+2), Mohamed Simakan (46th) and Christoph Baumgartner (80th). Before the duel with PSG on Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN), Brandt complained about Dortmund’s “too many mistakes”: “As so often during the season, we give the opponent too many goals.” Jadon Sancho’s (10th) remarkable lead was quickly forgotten.
In the Bundesliga table, BVB is in fifth place, five points behind fourth-placed RB. In all likelihood, that will still be enough to qualify for the Champions League, as the German clubs can have high hopes for another starting place in the newly established European top league thanks to their good performance in the European Cup.
“It’s not our aim to come fifth, that’s very clear,” said Brandt, but with a view to the semi-final first leg next week he assured: “Wednesday is Wednesday – and today is today. Today is a bitter one Thing.” Central defender Mats Hummels, who had to be replaced with an injury, was a concern.