‘We lost control’ – Niko Kovac analyses Borussia Dortmund’s draw against Lille

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·5 March 2025

‘We lost control’ – Niko Kovac analyses Borussia Dortmund’s draw against Lille

Borussia Dortmund have it all to do next week after they played out a 1-1 draw against Lille in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring midway through the first half as Die Schwarzgelben controlled the game, but the visitors played magnificently after the break with Hákon Arnar Haraldsson securing a draw for the French side.

Speaking after the game, Niko Kovac analysed his team’s performance – via Ruhr Nachrichten.

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“We did very well in the first half. In the second half we lost control. We were no longer be able to get into tackles, we no longer had space like in the first half. We had too few shifts of play and phases in which we calmed the game down. We gave the ball away too easily, then one wave came after another (…) It’s 1-1, it’s half time. We have to play in Lille like we did in the first half. Otherwise it will be difficult but I’m convinced that we can do it.”

Borussia Dortmund controlled the first half, but lost their foothold

Adeyemi – who has started every game under Kovac – almost left the club in the winter transfer window for Napoli. But the German attacker has earned the trust of BVB’s head coach, and the 23-year-old has repaid his faith with goals in successive games. Adeyemi, alongside Nico Schlotterbeck, was Dortmund’s best player on the night (GGFN Rating: 7).

Dortmund will certainly feel as though they can get the job done in Lille, but Tuesday’s night’s performance showcased the threat that Lille pose, and BVB must play will full concentration for the 90 minutes.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder