BVB (4 - 2) VFB – 60th Minute
The winger charges down the flank with the ball, eyes scanning the center as Che darts between both center backs.
As they draw closer to the penalty box, the winger unexpectedly slows his pace. Behind him, the left back sprints forward at full speed.
He shapes to cross but fakes the shot, and the left back slides past him helplessly.
With space opening up, the winger cuts toward the center, and Che edges forward, waiting just outside the box.
He passes it to Che, who receives the ball mid-turn. Dortmund players close in quickly, and with no support nearby, Che makes an instant decision.
Turning to face the goal, he avoids any extra touches. One center back is tracking Speidel, the other is watching the right winger.
But Che's plan is clear—he strikes, curling the ball powerfully toward the top left corner. The ball zips through the air, perfectly on target.
The goalkeeper launches himself with everything he has, reaching out and barely tipping the ball over the bar with his wrist.
Relief washes over every Dortmund player; none of them expected Che to hit with such precision from outside the box.
The assistant coach stares at Che in disbelief. "We need to get someone on to deal with him."
"You're right," Sebastian agrees.
The assistant manager signals for the defenders and midfielders to start warming up.
It's a corner. Inside the box, players wrestle and jostle for position. As the cross is about to be taken, movement explodes—players push, tug, and weave.
The corner whips in fast toward the near post, and Stuttgart's center back breaks through with sheer strength, charging toward the ball.
He leaps above the chaos, the only one who clearly tracks the ball's path.
As it connects with his head, he tilts it toward the goal. It rockets forward with ferocious power.
Goal.
No one reacts in time to stop it. Grins stretch across Stuttgart's faces as the center back grabs the ball and rushes back.
"Let's focus and get the next one too."
BVB (4 - 3) VFB – 63rd Minute
Scorer: Gabriel Zarrella | Assist: Collin Schramm
Borussia Dortmund Substitution – 64'
Off: • #4 Lenni Strößner (Center Back) • #10 Hamzath Mohamadou (Attacking Midfielder)
On: • #13 Georgios Zisopoulos (Center Back) • #18 Nazariy Rudzey (Defensive Midfielder)
Dortmund adjusts their shape, transitioning to a double pivot with two defensive midfielders.
After the restart, Stuttgart surges with renewed energy—Che included. Dortmund reacts by sitting deeper, defending with discipline and composure.
Dortmund continues to pass through midfield, tracking the ball closely, but Stuttgart commits players to the press. Each man defends based on ball location, keeping structure.
Dortmund finds it hard to advance through passing lanes, so they reset by playing the ball back to the goalkeeper.
The keeper begins the build-up, passing to the left back, who plays it to the center back, then onto midfield. The midfielders circulate the ball steadily.
Stuttgart stays compact and disciplined, maintaining their defensive shape.
As the ball moves through midfield, Stuttgart's center midfielder grows aggressive—he presses, wins the ball cleanly. No foul.
He immediately feeds the ball to Speidel down the left, who doesn't hesitate. He cuts inside, but the right back holds firm.
Speidel uses it to bait him, then flicks a backheel pass into space for the midfielder making a run behind. The midfielder breaks down the wing.
The right back reacts too late. One of Dortmund's center backs steps up to cover.
The midfielder slows, then threads a pass through to the overlapping left back charging at full speed. The left back looks up; Stuttgart's right winger is already positioned inside the box.
The cross is low and sharp, skimming across the turf. Both Dortmund center backs race to block it while keeping the winger at bay.
All three dive for the ball—the winger sandwiched between the defenders. He gets a touch, but it glances off the side netting and out of play.
Stuttgart regroups quickly, focused on securing their equalizer. Dortmund's defenders, however, look rattled by the shift in momentum.
"Hey! Focus! You're a step behind because you're reacting to them! Stick to our fuckin' game plan and everything will go back to what it was!" the Dortmund right back yells.
The players nod, snapped out of their spiral.
They remember the grueling training, the early mornings, and the mental reps they ran all season long.
This is unfamiliar territory—but Sebastian prepared them for moments like this.
The defenders shake off the panic and center themselves. They've trained for this—they're ready.