A bird in the bush is worth three on the blog, or something. It’s slim pickings from G through to K in RTFM world, so we’re combining G, H, and I in today’s update. The latest focus will be on the silverware available in Germany and Italy, as well as the managerial hirings and firings since we last checked-in on the world…
If you weren’t aware that we managed Borussia Dortmund for two seasons, then hello! and welcome to RTFM. Both seasons brought title wins, with our last look at 1.Bundesliga in May 2015 as Energie Cottbus took Hertha berlin’s top-flight spot. But what happened since?
Dortmund retained the title in 2016 (a fifth in six season) under new manager Antonio Conte, becoming the first side since Bayern Munich in 2001 to win three consecutive titles. After a torrid 2015 where they finished 5th, Bayern bounced back to finish 2nd behind BVB, as Hoffenheim finished 3rd for their best-ever league finish, just two years after promotion. BVB went on to complete the domestic double with DFB-Pokal victory over Mainz, before beating them again in the DFL-Supercup at the start of the 16/17 season.
Bayern then won back-to-back titles in 2017 and ’18 for their 24th and 25th Bundesliga titles, with BVB playing second-fiddle on both occasions. Leverkusen and Wolfsburg finished 3rd in those two seasons respectively. Wolfsburg lifted the Pokal in 2017 with a win over Gladbach before lifting the Supercup, with Bayern completing the double with a final win over Dortmund in May 2018. SC Freiburg and Dinamo Dresden will be back in the top-flight next season after promotion from the second tier.
The German national squad lost in the Euro 2016 Semi-Finals on penalties to eventual champions Italy following a 0-0 draw in Paris. The route to the final four saw them top a group containing Croatia, Scotland, and Denmark, before knockout wins against Austria and then Switzerland. Joachim Löw resigned following the defeat, with Jürgen Klopp his replacement.
Their FIFA World Cup 2018 campaign will begin against Morocco, ahead of further group matches against Australia and the Republic of Ireland. Germany are ranked 5th in the world behind Argentina, Italy, Brazil, and Cameroon in that order.
It’s highly likely that our return for the 2018-19 season will take place in the Premier League, so it’s time we took a look at the managerial comings and goings over the past three years at next year’s top flight English clubs.
Among the eyebrow-raising appointments are Liverpool giving Rafa Benítez a third spell in charge with his December hiring to replace the sacked Luis Enrique.
Tony Pulis is about to start his thirteenth season at Stoke City, making him the league’s longest-serving manager, José Mourinho is second, four years after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Meanwhile, Man City are on their sixth manager in five seasons.
Premier League 2018-19, Managerial History since June 2015:
ARSENAL
David Moyes Mar 17 -
Rafa Benítez Dec 15 - Feb 17 (sacked)
Laurent Blanc Jul 15 - Nov 15 (sacked)
Arsene Wenger Sep 96 - Jun 15 (retired)
ASTON VILLA
Pasquale Marino Dec 16 -
Steve McClaren Nov 15 - Dec 16 (sacked)
Gus Poyet Dec 14 - Nov 15 (sacked)
BLACKBURN
Dougie Freedman Dec 15 -
Nigel Adkins Dec 14 - Dec 15 (sacked)
BOLTON WANDERERS
Paulo Sérgio Apr 17 -
Gareth Southgate Jan 16 - Mar 17 (left, Wolves)
Alan Shearer Jan 14 - Dec 15 (left, WBA)
BURNLEY
Roy Keane Feb 18 -
Michael Appleton Nov 15 - Feb 18 (left, Wigan)
Sam Allardyce May 15 - Oct 15 (sacked)
CHELSEA
Fatih Terim Nov 16 -
Luciano Spalletti Jan 13 - Nov 16 (sacked)
EVERTON
Pat Fenlon Feb 16 -
Steve Bruce Dec 13 - Feb 16 (sacked)
FULHAM
Neil Lennon Nov 16 -
Lee Clark Jan 16 - Nov 16 (sacked)
Ståle Solbakken May 15 - Dec 15 (sacked)
LIVERPOOL
Rafa Benítez Dec 17 -
Luis Enrique Nov 16 - Nov 17 (sacked)
Eddie Howe Dec 14 - Nov 16 (sacked)
MANCHESTER CITY
Luciano Spalletti Dec 17 -
Oleg Luzhnyi Nov 16 - Dec 17 (sacked)
Laurent Blanc Jan 16 - Nov 16 (sacked)
Javier Aguirre Dec 14 - Dec 15 (sacked)
MANCHESTER UNITED
José Mourinho Jun 14 -
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Lee Clark Jun 17 -
Pasquale Marino Nov 15 - Dec 16 (left, Villa)
Stuart Pearce Nov 12 - Nov 15 (sacked)
NORWICH CITY
Alan Curbishley Feb 16 -
Pat Fenlon Jan 14 - Feb 16 (left, Everton)
SOUTHAMPTON
Paul Ince May 16 -
Chris Powell May 15 - May 16 (sacked)
STOKE CITY
Tony Pulis Jun 06 -
SWANSEA CITY
Alan Pardew Mar 16 -
Paolo Di Canio Aug 14 - Feb 16 (sacked)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Slaven Bilic Nov 15 -
André Villas-Boas Jul 12 - Nov (left, Bayern)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Alan Shearer Dec 15 -
Alan Curbishley Dec 14 - Dec 15 (sacked)
WEST HAM UNITED
John Sheridan Oct 15 -
Gordon Strachan Dec 14 - Oct 15 (sacked)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Steve McClaren Dec 17 -
Gareth Southgate Mar 17 - Nov 17 (sacked)
Mark Hughes Aug 16 - Mar 17 (sacked)
Martin Jol Jun 15 - Jul 16 (resigned)
Italy are the reigning European Champions after their 2-0 win over Bosnia at Euro 2016 in France two years ago, and go into this summer’s FIFA World Cup ranked 2nd in the world (behind Argentina). Wales, Ghana and Saudi Arabia await in Russia next month. Roberto Mancini manages the national squad, following Cesare Prandelli’s resignation after the Euros.
After two years of winning the Italian top-flight, Juventus were beaten into second place by Inter in 2016 as the Milanese club won their seventh Serie A title in eleven seasons. AC Milan then won back-to-back titles in ’17 and ’18 ahead of Juvé and Inter respectively. Impressively, Fiorentina finished 3rd in two of the past three seasons.
AC Milan lifted the TIM Cup in 2016, denying Inter the domestic double in the final. Juventus then won in ’17 and ’18 with victories over Inter then Milan.
RTFM is returning after a hiatus since we resigned as manager of Borussia Dortmund at the end of June 2015. The three seasons since then have been fully simulated in the original FM13 save, right up to the eve of the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Our daily news will return on 15 June 2018, with regular blog posts between now and then to highlight what’s happened in our absence.
NB: The entirety of RTFM is being played on Football Manager 2013. Regen players will have ® after their names to indicate this. Be aware that changes to competition rules since the summer of 2012 will not have been implemented in our save (e.g. UEL winners do not automatically qualify for the UCL), and this includes any new clubs or franchises, though we will endeavour to report on correct/current competition titles.
We will return to club management after our save generates the domestic leagues we’ve selected for the 2018-19 season on, or shortly after, 20th June. Feel free to ask questions in the comments or @realtimefm.
Dortmund’s 54-match season ended on a high as a last-minute winner from Marco Reus sealed the DFB-Pokal Final against Schalke in Berlin tonight, winning back-to-back domestic doubles to ease away some of the continental disappointment.
Gray Surman reverted back to the asymmetrical shape and brought in the strongest possible staring XI, with only Sven Bender unavailable as he sat out with a broken collarbone. Dortmund were happy to sit back and counter, and came closest in a goalless first-half, when Mats Hummels was denied twice on the line from corners.
Half-time substitute Dennis Praet provided the catalyst for the opener, when his snap-shot was pushed back out by David Ospina only as far as André Schürrle who slotted home into an unguarded goal ten minutes after the break.
Schalke pushed for an equaliser and won a number of corners, but the game flattened out as defences played high lines and the assistant referees had a busy night. With ten minutes remaining, route one stuff drew Schalke level as Teemo Pukki poked through Roman Weidenfeller for an equaliser.
As the clock ticked into the final ninety seconds, Rafinha was denied by a boot from Praet as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar intercepted a back-pass and played him through. BVB cleared the corner and hammered the ball forwards. Cristiano Zaccardo made a mess of a pass towards Benedikt Höwedes and substitute Ivan Perisic stole in.
He took two touches to get into the box before firing at Ospina who once again pushed the ball back into play, and Marco Reus had the easiest of finishes to win it. BVB weathered a brief storm as Schalke threw everyone forwards in stoppage time, but it was Dortmund who retained the trophy.
Welcome to Berlin’s Olympiastadion for the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final, and first between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund. Schalke finished 4th, eleven points off the pace of champions Dortmund, but managed to sneak in to the Champions League spots with a final day win.
Lewis Holtby (broken foot) and Marco Höger (hamstring) are out for Schalke, while Sven Bender (collarbone) is absent for Dortmund who have won the last four meetings between these fierce rivals.
[00] Wolfgang Stark gets the 72nd DFB-Pokal Final under way! Dortmund have four wins from six previous final appearances, while Schalke have five wins from twelve.
[04] First touch for Roman Weidenfeller in the Dortmund goal as he comes to claim a Matip cross. Good work down the right from Schalke, but Huntelaar couldn’t get on the end of it.
[04] Weidenfeller bowls the ball upfield and Dortmund break. Marco Reus has a shot from just inside the box which deflects wide off Papadopoulous and they win the first corner. Howedes and Draxler combine to clear.
[05] Good sliding challenge to ceny Reus another shot at goal. Contento makes the tackle. Götze whips in the second corner but Rafinha clears from the six-yard box.
[10] Schalke giving free-kicks away all over the park. Rafinha brings down Jovetic 25 yards out. Reus’s free-kick deflects up off the wall and is floated back into the box by Subotic but Jovetic heads inches over the top from eight yards out.
[17] Half-chances at both ends but neither Draxler nor Jovetic can get a shot away.
[18] Farfán’s attempted cross cannons behind of Schmelzer and Schalke have their first corner. Draxler’s delivery is headed aWay by Subotic and Dortmund regroup.
[20] Twenty played and Schalke have more of the possession (64-36%) but haven’t tested Weidenfeller yet. BVB look happy to defend deep then break.
[22] Corner for Schalke as Schmelzer challenges Draxler. Huntelaar beats Hummels to the ball at the far post but can only find the side netting with his header.
[23] Another corner for Schalke as Lars Bender challenges Rafinha. Hummels heads away.
[24] Draxler bends an effort well wide from 25 yards.
[26] Corner number four for Schalke. Dortmund defend this one well, with Schmelzer finally hammering it away. They try the quick counter but Rafinha clears his lines.
[33] Still haven’t had a shot on target registered by either side yet. Schürrle puts a lovely ball through to Jovetic, but the flag goes up.
[34] Rafinha is the first player in the book after his fourth foul of the game, barging Schürrle over in the middle of the park.
[35] Reus runs at Neustadter down the right and wins Dortmund a corner. Götze whips it in low to the near post and it’s met by Hummels who has his volley stopped at point-blank range by Ospina before Matip clears it behind.
[36] Off the line! Hummels causes problems again when he meets Götze’s corner. His header beats Ospina but Matip hacks it clear.
[36] Jovetic bends a daisy-cutter wide from 20 yards.
[39] Schalke corner, won by Farfán. Subotic clears.
[40] Schmelzer challenges Farfán in the box, but again Dortund clear Draxler’s corner.
[43] Jefferson Farfán stays down after he collides with Schmelzer and Hummels. He looks like he’ll play until the break though.
[44] Hunterlaar wins Schalke a corner, their seventh. Schmelzer clears.
[45] Two minutes added on.
HALF-TIME: FC Schalke 0-0 Borussia Dortmund (DFB-Pokal Final).
[HT] One change at the break for Dortmund who bring on Dennis Praet for Verniers (6.7).
[46] Schalke kick-off the second-half. The two sides now defending the ends in front of their own fans.
[49] Jonathan Viera has a go from the edge of the box but his effort is always droping wide.
[54] Game very stop-start at the moment with offside decisions at both ends, all correct.
[55] Bender trips Viera a yard outside the box, Howedes flicks the free-kick on but Hummels clears away.
[56] SCHALKE 0-1 DORTMUND: The holders take the lead, and it comes out of nothing. Dennis Praet takes a touch to set himself before curling towards goal from the edge of the box. Ospina makes a brilliant save to push it away but is powerless to stop André Schürrle knocking home the loose ball.
[56] Second change for Dortmund: Robert Lewandowski is on for Jovetic (7.1) who has picked-up a knock.
[56] Schalke are making a change before the restart: On comes Teemo Pukki for Viera (6.7).
[62] Pukki makes good progress into the box but Hummels closes him down, challenges, and Schalke win a corner. They make a double change and bring on Cristian Zaccardo and Sergio Escudero for Farfán (5.9) and Draxler (5.9).
[62] Bender clears the corner, but the ball only falls as far as Rafinha who hammers it back towards goal but he’s off-target through the packed penalty area.
[66] Escudero gets by Beck and tries to chip a shot from a tight angle past Weidenfeller, but it drops just over the top.
[67] Robert Lewandowski is cautioned after a bad foul on Benedikt Howedes. First of the season for him.
[70] Twenty minutes separating Dortmund from the domestic double. Schalke really need to start testing Weidenfeller, he’s not had a save to make.
[74] Corner for Schalke. Beck knocks Howedes’ cross behind.
[80] SCHALKE 1-1 DORTMUND: Schalke draw level with their first shot on target all game. Cristian Zaccardo launches a long ball over the top for Teemo Pukki who out-paces Hummels and pokes the ball through Weidenfeller. It trickles agonisingly over the line as Schmelzer rushes to get back.
[83] Sixth and final change. Ivan Perisic replaces Götze (7.0) for Dortmund.
[85] Klaas-Jan Huntelaar jumps and catches Lewandowski with an arm, earning him a caution.
[87] Praet flights a free-kick in after Zaccardo brings down Schürrle by the corner flag, but Howedes clears.
[89] Schalke win a corner in the final minute. Huntelaar intercepts a bad ball across the back, and Rafinha has his shot deflected behind. Dortmund clear the corner.
[89] SCHALKE 1-2 DORTMUND: GOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Dortmund have probably won it with one minutes to play. Zaccardo plays a terrible ball back towards Höwedes that’s intercepted by Ivan Perisic. He gets inside the box and is denied by Ospina but Marco Reus slots home the rebound.
[90] Three minutes to be added on.
[90+1] Schalke understandably throwing everything at Dortmund. Escudero and Neustadter get in each other’s way ten yards out, but Praet deflects the shot behind. Schalke’s 11th corner to Dortmund’s four tonight.
[90+2] Pukki snatches at a shot from 22 yards. Weidenfeller sees it wide.
FULL-TIME: FC Schalke 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (DFB-Pokal Final). [PKM]
A dramatic end to a match, and Marco Reus is carried aloft by his team mates as he’s won Dortmund back-to-back domestic doubles with his strike with 61 seconds of normal time remaining.
It’s all come together for Dortmund since they got knocked out of continental football, with Surman changing the shape and they’ll celebrate tonight with a sweet victory over their fiercest rivals.
Time for a long summer and a cold beer. Thanks for reading!
BVB booked their place in the DFB-Pokal Final after a crazy nine-goal thriller at Nürnberg tonight, with the visitors scoring all four from the red hoot boots of Marcus Berg. Dortmund were three-up inside eighteen minutes, but found themselves pulled back level come the interval.
Surman made four changes from the defeat at Ajax, with Heinz Lindner returning in goal, Jos Verniers and Marco Reus in midfield, and Robert Lewandowski up front taking the places of Weidenfeller, Beck, Götze, and Jovetic respectively.
Verniers opened the scoring with his first goal for the club when he thumped home a half-volley when the hosts couldn’t clear a corner, and Lewandowski doubled the lead on the quarter of an hour mark when BVB went on a deadly counter attack. Julian Koch drilled home a third, before Berg hit a 19-minute hat-trick to stun the visitors before the break.
Five minutes into the second-half, referee Wolfgang Stark pointed to the point after Javier Pinola dived-in on Reus, and Ivan Perisic sent Raphael Schäfer the wrong way from the spot to put Dortmund ahead. Substitute Mario Götze extended the lead with seven minutes to play, but Berg still had enough time to score a fourth and set-up a tense final couple of minutes.
BVB held on and will play Schalke on 23 May.
Welcome to the Frankenstadion where FC Nürnberg host holders Borussia Dortmund for a place in the DFB-Pokal Final against Schalke in Berlin on 23 May.
Nürnberg’s most recent success in the competition was in in 2007, their sixth final which brought their fourth Pokal and first since 1962. They’ve gone one stage better than last year where they lost on penalties at Bayern Munich.
Today’s referee is Wolfgang Stark from Munich, and he took charge of Dortmund’s last domestic match – the 4-2 home win over Düsseldorf that took them top of the table. He was also the man in the middle for the quarter-final win at Leverkusen.
[00] Nürnberg kick-off this semi-final tie!
[01] Offside! Adam Hlousek has the ball in the net, but the flag had long gone up against Marcus Berg before he found his team mate. Early warning for Dortmund but they had stopped upon hearing the whistle.
[03] First attack for Dortmund as Bender finds Schmelzer in acres of space on the left, he cuts inside but his square ball across the box is cleared away.
[05] Berg has a go from distance but his low effort is easily held by Lindner.
[06] Dortmund have a corner when Chandler heads behind a Schmelzer ball into the box.
[07] NÜRNBERG 0-1 DORTMUND: It’s a first goal for the club for Jos Verniers since his move from Brugge and it puts Dortmund in front early on. Perisic’s corner is flicked towards the penalty spot by Hummels and Verniers hits a left-footed half-volley smashing it past the man on the line.
[09] Schürrle plays an underhit backpass towards Lindner and Hlousek is in between Subotic and the ball, but the defender gets back to deflect his shot wide for Nürnberg’s first corner. Dortmund clear away and upfield.
[10] Lewandowski is onside and in behind the back four, but he’s forced wide as the tweo centre backs come to cover and he can’t work a shot away, before having a pass towards Perisic intercepted.
[11] Perisic plays Lewandowski through again but Schäfer is quick off his line to push it away at the striker’s feet. The ball spins up into the air but Nürnberg clear it away from the edge of their own box.
[13] Tim Chandler heads narrowly over the top as Asare whips a free-kick in from the right.
[14] Jos Verniers adds to his first Dortmund goal with his first booking for a foul on Karim Guédé.
[14] Nürnberg over-commit and when Guédé gives the ball away to Verniers after Asare’s sloppy pass, the ball gets played to Robert Lewandowski who’s the only man except the home ‘keeper in the other half. One on one…
[14] NÜRNBERG 0-2 DORTMUND: Absolutely suicidal play from the hosts, as all ten outfield players were in the Dortmund half. Verniers intercepts, gets it out of his feet to Reus who just slots it through the middle to Robert Lewandowski. He has 40 yards to run unopposed before slotting home his 14th of the season.
[17] Schürrle cuts inside from the left, beats his man, but fires wide from the edge of the box.
[18] NÜRNBERG 0-3 DORTMUND: It could be all over and we haven’t even played twenty minutes. Lewandowski brings he ball down 25 yards out before clipping it over the top for Julian Koch to run on to and bury first-time past Schäfer. Great finish from the right-back.
[23] Julian Koch puts behind Pinola’s cross at the near post.
[23] NÜRNBERG 1-3 DORTMUND: The home side give themselves a life line as Marcus Berg powers home a thumping header at the near post from Pinola’s corner. 22nd goal of the season for the Nürnberg top-scorer.
[25] Pinola brings down Reus giving BVB a great opportunity to whip the ball into the box. Reus takes on the shot though, and it’s an easy take for Schäfer.
[26] Corner for Dortmund. Two corners, two goals so far today.
[27] So very nearly three from three as Raphael Schäfer has to dive to his left and fingertip a Subotic header over the top. Chandler clears, but Guédé gives possession away to Schürrle on the edge of the box. Nürnberg just about clear their lines before he can get a shot away though.
[29] Marcus Berg’s diving header drops inches wide as he gets on the end of a Mendler cross. Good move from Nürnberg, but Berg couldn’t get enough power on it.
[33] Reus wins Dortmund a corner down the right. Pinola’s sliding challenge knocks it behind.
[36] Asare comes off second-best in a challenge with Bender. Lewandowski puts the ball out so he can get treatment, but he’s back on after the restart and looks like he’ll shake it off.
[39] NÜRNBERG 2-3 DORTMUND: Surman is furious with his defence as half step-up and half drop back, playing Marcus Berg onside. He only needs one touch as he controls Mendler’s pass before slamming it past Lindner. Comeback?
[41] Timothy Chandler brings down Perisic as he bears down on goal. Free-kick 30 yards out, and surprisingly no caution.
[42] Heinz Lindner bursts out of his goal to clear a throughball, but slices his clearance to Mendler but he’s closed down before he can take a pop towards goal.
[42] NÜRNBERG 3-3 DORTMUND: Hat-trick for Marcus Berg and the stadium is absolutely rocking! Schäfer hits a ball straight up the middle, Hlousek flicks it on, Hummels lets it drop behind him and Berg drills it low into the bottom corner first time. BVB just can’t deal with the ball over the top.
[44] One additional minute.
[45+1] Lindner saves from Hlousek. Nürnberg are pouring forwards, buoyed by the crowd.
HALF-TIME: FC Nürnberg 3-3 Borussia Dortmund (DFB-Pokal Semi-Final).
[HT] A thrilling match so far, but Dortmund have thrown the lead away in twenty minutes. Its a tremendous hat-trick from Marcus Berg, and the crowd are right behind the home side now after being silenced early on.
[HT] Surman has work to do during the interval. His Dortmund side need to come out with the right frame of mind. No changes at the break for either side.
[46] Dortmund kick-off the second-half.
[46] Schürrle drills a shot well wide with thirty seconds of the half played.
[49] Penalty! Javier Pinola has been diving in on Reus all game, and this time he’s timed it wrong. Reus controlled a Koch throw-in, turned Pinola and then gets felled by the goal line.
[49] Ivan Perisic will take it.
[50] NÜRNBERG 3-4 DORTMUND: Ninth goal of the season for Ivan Perisic as he sends Raphael Schäfer the wrong way from the spot, finding the bottom left corner to put Dortmund back in front.
[52] Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic have swapped sides, and this time they play the offside perfectly and catch Berg.
[55] Verniers wins the ball off Berg and it goes behind for a Nürnberg corner, before Hummels heads behind for a second. It’s worked back to Chandler, but he hits a daisycutter wide from the edge of the box.
[59] Lewandowski muscles his way between the two centre-backs, but Schäfer is equal to his fierce low drive. Nürnberg lose possession quickly but Schürrle is wasteful from distance.
[60] Corner for Nürnberg, Schmelzer wins the ball cleanly from Berg. Bender clears the set-piece away.
[61] Pinola penalised again for sliding in on Reus. Error was Nürnberg’s making as they gave the ball away to Perisic in the middle of their half. Hummels can’t send it goalwards when he gets on the end of the free-kick.
[64] Schürrle sends another one wide from distance. Götze sent out to warm-up for Dortmund. Schürrle does so well when he hits the goal line, but today’s he been cutting inside and wasting chances.
[65] First change of the game, Mario Götze replaces Schürrle (5.6) for Dortmund.
[66] Hummels heads an Asare delivery into the box behind for Nürnberg’s sixth corner. Asare fouls his man and Dortmund have the chance to clear.
[70] Nürnberg make their first change: On comes Hanno Balitsch for Asare (6.8).
[72] Marcus Reus looks like he’s taken a knock after another clumsy challenge from Pinola. Dortmund bench having a justified whinge at the fourth official.
[73] Ivan Perisic tries to clip it over Schäfer as he comes out to close the gap. The ‘keeper gets a touch before Ojala clears the ball away before it can drop home for a fifth.
[74] Dortmund substitution: Dennis Praet on for Reus (7.9).
[77] Glorious chance for Adam Hlousek to level it. He’s played through by Cohen, but he drills it inches wide from 15 yards out. He should be celebrating an equaliser right now.
[80] Ten minutes to play here. Looks like Dortmund have shaped-up at the back, and they look comfortable going forwards, but they’ll have to defend well as the hosts will undoubtedly through everything at them.
[81] Second change for Nürnberg: On comes Umaru Bangura to replace Guédé (6.9).
[83] NÜRNBERG 3-5 DORTMUND: One foot in the final for the holders as they counter through Lewandowski when a Nürnberg attacks breaks down. His strength holds off the challenge of Klose before he slips through Mario Götze on the overlap and the substitute buries it from close range.
[85] Corner for Dortmund when Pinola heads behind a ball towards the box from Koch. It comes to nothing, and the visitors look like they’re preparing their final change.
[87] Third sub for Dortmund: Andreas Beck comes on for Verniers (8.2).
[88] NÜRNBERG 4-5 DORTMUND: What a game! It’s route one stuff as the ball gets clipped over the top for – who else? – Marcus Berg. He takes a touch to steady himself before chipping a lob over Lindner from just inside the box. Brilliant finish for the man who’s scored four today.
[88] Nürnberg send on their final sub: Tomás Pekhart replaces Chandler (5.9).
[89] I doubt many people were expecting a nine-goal thriller today! Is there one final twist? Ninety seconds of normal time remaining, plus whatever the officials add on.
[90] Three additional minutes as Hlousek is flagged offside. Much better defensive performance from Dortmund this half. Can they hold out and set-up the first-ever Revierderby final?
[90+3] Cohen fouls Praet in the centre circle and you can feel it slipping away from Nürnberg now. Pekhart and Berg both caught offside in the last thirty seconds or so.
[90+4] Play continues but Cohen is penalised for a trip on Bender. BVB taking their time over the restart. The domestic double is still on.
FULL-TIME: FC Nürnberg 3-5 Borussia Dortmund (DFB-Pokal Semi-Final). [PKM]
An astonishing match all-round. Plenty of attacking prowess on show, with some woeful defending. Dortmund always looks vulnerable to a ball over the top, with the defence just not dropping deep enough. Marcus Berg deserves all the plaudits coming his way after hitting his 25th goal of the season, surely he won’t be at Nürnberg come September.
Five different scorers for Dortmund, with two assists apiece for Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus – the latter looking very much missed last Thursday night in the defeat at Ajax. Dortmund are back in action next week with one of the league games in hand in a trip to Stuttgart.
01.04: Bundesliga #27 VFB Stuttgart v. BVB (Mercedes Benz Arena)
04.04: Bundesliga #28 Eintracht Frankfurt v. BVB (Commerzbank-Arena)
08.04: Bundesliga #29 BVB v. VfL Wolfsburg (Signal Iduna Park)
11.04: Bundesliga #30 BVB v. SC Freiburg (Signal Iduna Park)
18.04: Bundesliga #31 Hertha Berlin v. BVB (Olympiastadion)
Schalke put five past Bundesliga title-rivals Hamburg in tonight’s DFB-Pokal Semi-Final tie to book their place against the winners of tomorrow’s clash between Nürnberg and Borussia Dortmund.
Jonathan Viera siezed on a slip by Georg Niedermeier to fire the hosts in front with ten minutes played, before Kyriakos Papadopoulos headed home a corner just eight minutes later to double the lead. As a one-way first-half was coming to a close, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar bagged his 37th goal of the season to make it three-nil at the break.
Chinedu Obasi and Sergio Escudero scored before the hour as Schalke completed the rout. Hamburg only tested ‘keeper David Ospina twice throughout the match, and Schalke deserve their place in the final in Berlin on 23 May
Nürnberg host Dortmund in the other semi-final tomorrow.
Dortmund’s DFB-Pokal defence continues as a Mats Hummels extra-time goal put them into the last four with a 1-0 victory at Bayer Leverkusen, their third win over the club this season.
With a full week’s break having not played at the weekend, Gray Surman was able to call upon a fully-fit squad, with the only exception being Marcel Schmelzer who was serving the final game of a three-match domestic ban from his sending-off in the Bundesligawin over Bayer at the end of January.
BVB made four changes from the defeat of Anderlecht last week with Mario Götze making his first appearance in five matches, and André Schürrle, Stevan Jovetic, and Neven Subotic all returning to the starting XI. Eyebrows were raised at the lack of a substitute ‘keeper on the bench though Heinz Lindner was reported as fit and available.
A dour first-half only came to life in the dying minutes when Götze hit a post from ten yards out before a great save denied Schürrle curling an effort into the top corner in stoppage time. Dennis Praet replaced Götze at the break, and both sides came bursting out the blocks.
Roman Weidenfeller made two good saves from Stefan Reinartz headers to keep the scores level, and as the tie went into extra-time, Stevan Jovetic hit the crossbar as he flicked a Julian Koch cross towards goal. Four minutes later, Dortmund were awarded a debatable corner.
As the hosts were still berating the officials, Praet whipped the delivery in towards Mats Hummels who was given time and space to control and turn, before he beat Pär Hansson at his near post. BVB parked the bus and soaked up lots of Leverkusen pressure, but kept their third clean sheet in the competition and set-up a semi-final tie at Nürnberg in three weeks.
Tonight’s other quarter-final tie saw Schalke twice come from behind to eventually win 3-2 at second-tier Erzegebirge Aue after extra-time. That the match had gone the full two hours was pleasing to the Dortmund staff as BVB travel to Schalke on Saturday afternoon.
A place in the semi-finals away at Nürnberg awaits today’s winner, with this tie being decided tonight here at BayArena. Dortmund hold the upper-hand with 3 wins to Bayer’s 2 in their last six meetings, including a big 3-1 win at home in January that put them top for the first time this season.
Fast forward to today and Leverkusen sit in second in the league, a point behind Schalke, and two points ahead of third-place Dortmund who have two games in hand on both of them.
The rivalry between the two clubs doesn’t stop there though, with Dortmund two points behind them in the U19 league, and the double-transfer which saw Lars Bender and André Schürrle join BVB last season as well as a handful of backroom staff. There won’t be many warm welcomes for Die Schwarzgelben today!
Simon Rolfes is out for the hosts, with the seven-goal striker sidelined for the rest of the month with a sprained ankle. Marcel Schmelzer is the only absentee for Dortmund, serving the final match of his suspension for his red card in the league match between these two sides on 30 January.
Interestingly enough there’s no goalkeeper on the bench for Dortmund today, who have made four changes from their 5-1 defeat of Anderlecht last week. In comes Neven Subotic at centre-back, Mario Götze and André Schürrle both start in the midfield, and Stevan Jovetic is up top.
Pär Hansson hasn’t conceded in his last four matches for Leverkusen, and he gets the nod to start for the hosts. Daniel Ginczek starts against his former club upfront, in what looks very much like a second-string line-up against BVB’s likely strongest starting XI.
[00] The country’s top referee, Wolfgang Stark, gets us under way with the home side kicking-off!
[02] Early touches for both ‘keepers. Röcker is offside for Dortmund, so Harsson takes the free-kick sending it long downfield where Weidenfeller gathers.
[04] Dani Carvajal fouls Schürrle on the touchline, but Götze’s delivery is headed away at the near post.
[08] Carvajal again fouls Schürrle, but Leverkusen have everyone back in the box and Götze’s delivery is cleared away.
[10] Hajime Hosogai has the first effort of the game, blasting high and wide of Weidenfeller’s near post from 25 yards.
[16] Leverkusen win the first corner of the game when Quiring buys the set-piece off the legs of Subotic. Lars Bender heads away the delivery before Hummels clears.
[18] Potential upset on the cards as Aue have taken the lead in tonight’s other quarter-final tie against Bundesliga leaders Schalke. Guido Kocer has put the second-tier hosts in front.
[28] Quite a dull match so far, neither side able to get the ball forwards and retain possession.
[30] Jonathan Viera, on loan from Valencia, has equalised for Schalke at Aue.
[32] Dortmund have their first effort when Jovetic nods down a cross that Sven Bender touches wide for Schürrle to curl first time towards the top corner, but he’s wide from 25 yards.
[34] Hajime Hosogai is cautioned after he trips Sven Bender in the Leverkusen half.
[39] Dortmund are trying to put crosses into the box, but Leverkusen have ten men behind the ball most of the time. Lucas and Felipe clearing almost everything.
[42] Woodwork! Mario Götze hits the post from ten yards out after great work from Koch to beat his man and send a cross into the six-yard box that Reinartz makes a hash of clearing.
[44] Paolo De Ceglie slides in hard on Marco Reus and joins Hosogai in the book.
[45] We’ll have an extra minute here in the first-half.
[45+1] Hansson pushes away a Schürrle drive from just outside the box.
[HT] Götze’s effort apart, quite a dull first-half as both defences are getting the better of their attacking counterparts. Dortmund look the most likely to score, but who’ll come quickest out the blocks.
[HT] Change for Dortmund as Dennis Praet comes on for Götze (6.4). Leverkusen have made a change too: On comes Gonzalo Castro for Frei (7.0).
[46] Dortmund kick-off the second-half.
[46] Schürrle arrives late to get his head on the end of a Reus chip to the far post but he’s inches wide.
[50] Neven Subotic fouls Jantscher and is cautioned. The hosts work the ball into the Dortmund box but Reinartz drills a low shot wide from close range at a very tight angle. Should have perhaps pulled the ball back.
[53] Jantscher looks like he’s taken a knock from Subotic’s challenge.
[55] Andreas Beck comes on for Röcker (6.0) for Dortmund. Koch goes to left-back.
[57] Weidenfeller tips a Reinartz header over from ten yards out. Before the corner, Stefan Kießbling comes on for the hosts replacing Ginczek (7.1).
[60] A long throw into the box from Carvajal causes panic in the Dortmund box as Kießling almost forces the ball over the line but Hummels clears off the line.
[63] Reinartz gets the final touch on a Schürrle cross winning Dortmund a corner. efore it’s taken, Leverkusen make their final change and replace impressive centre-back Lucas (7.3) with Philipp Wollscheid. Interesting move from the hosts at this point in the game.
[64] It’s Wollscheid who heads the corner away at the far post.
[66] Jovetic and Reus both get the ball at their feet in the box but neither can get a shot away as the home side pack their own penalty area.
[70] Wollscheid gets to a Beck low cross ahead of Jovetic who’s steaming in to slam home at the near post.
[74] Halil Savran has put Aue back in front against Schalke. Can they book a semi-final place against Hamburg?
[76] Hansson denies Reus from 20 yards with a fine save. Corner. The ‘keeper holds on as Subotic heads towards goal.
[78] Schürrle puts an effort wide. Dortmund starting to turn the screw and find a late winner before we head into extra-time.
[80] Schürrle gets away down the left, controls Sven Bender’s ball wide, cuts inside and drills a low cross right across the face of goal. Reus just couldn’t get there in time at the far post.
[81] Jantscher bends a daisy-cutter wide from long range. Only ever troubling the cameraman behind the goal.
[82] Final change for Dortmund: Ivan Perisic replaces Schürrle (5.8).
[84] Reus and Jovetic combine brilliantly to get the ball forward but the former smashes a low shot wide from 15 yards.
[87] Viera has a second to draw Schalke level again at Aue. 2-2.
[88] Jovetic keeps the ball in by the corner flag, comes inside and tries to bend an audcaious effort into the top corner which evades Hansson, but Reinartz gets a touch ahead of a charging Praet at the far post.
[90] Three minutes for one side to find a winner and avoid extra-time.
[90+3] Carvajal collects a poor Koch clearance and drills a shot towards goal that deflects behind off Beck. Last chance here. Hummels heads away.
[FT] Impossible to call this. It’s going to take one moment of magic, or more likely, one tired mistake to send a side through tonight.
[91] Leverkusen kick-off extra-time.
[93] Woodwork! Stevan Jovetic sees his header hit the crossbar and go over as he flicks on from a Koch cross.
[95] Guess who’s scored for Schalke? Correct! Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scores his ten bajillionth of the season to put Schalke 3-2 up at Aue.
[95] Perisic fires over the bar from distance. Apparently it took a touch and Dortmund are awarded a corner to some constenation from the home fans behind the goal.
[97] LEVERKUSEN 0-1 DORTMUND: It’s a poor goal for the hosts to concede and they surround the referee in protest. Praet sends a corner into Mats Hummels who is allowed to control and turn by Dani Carvajal before beating Hansson at his near post.
[99] Kießling clatters Sven Bender 25 yards out. Reus bends the free-kick towards goal quickly but he’s off-target.
[104] Sven Bender is cautioned for a trip on Hosogai.
[106] Fifteen minutes separate Dortmund from the semi-finals. Can they hold on in their defence of the trophy? Can Leverkusen force penalties, or even turn this around completely? Let’s find out…
[108] Leverkusen have come out all guns blazing, but they’re up against a Dortmund side now parking the bus. We all know how good they are on the counter. This’ll be a fun quarter of an hour.
[115] Dortmund look like they’re holding on, but Dani Carvajal is the dangerous man coming forward for Leverkusen and he wins a corner. Subotic heads the delivery behind for another xcorner, Leverkusen’s eighth of the game.
[116] Weidenfeller saves easily from the corner.
[118] Dortmund are on the counter and Sven Bender lofts a long ball forward for twin brother Lars who is denied at close range by Hansson. Corner for Dortmund.
[120] Wollscheid makes a mess of a clearing header and sends Jovetic clean through to seal it for Dortmund, but he blasts wide when one-on-one with Hansson.
[120] Dani Carvajal overruns a ball into the box and has to stretch to poke it goalwards as Weidenfeller comes out, and it screws a yard wide. That was the chance. Ten seconds remaining.
Dortmund dug deep when they had to, and did just enough at the other end to book their place in the final four of the cup competition they’d dearly love to defend. A twelfth goal of the season for captain and centre-back Mats Hummels was the difference today against a Leverkusen side who gave run-outs to several fringe players.
Schalke came from behind twice to win 3-2 at second-tier Aue in tonight’s other quarter-final tie meaning that the semi line-up is Schalke-Hamburg, and Nürnberg-Dortmund, both set to take place at the end of the month.
07.03: Bundesliga #24 Schalke v. BVB (Veltins-Arena)
12.03: Europa League 2.1 BVB v. Ajax (Signal Iduna Park)
15.03: Bundesliga #26 BVB v. Fortuna Düsseldorf (Signal Iduna Park)
19.03: Europa League 2.2 Ajax v. BVB (Amsterdam ArenA)
24.03: DFB-Pokal SF FC Nürnberg v. BVB (Frankenstadion)
FC Nürnberg await the winners of Wednesday night’s clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund in the Semi-Finals of the DFB-Pokal after they needed extra time to beat third-tier Regensburg in their Quarter-Final clash.
Tobias Rathgeb put the underdogs in front from the spot before a home crowd with just eight minutes played, and the hosts were seven minutes away from a famous win until Timothy Chandler stroked the visitors level. Alexander Søderlund scored a four-minute brace in extra-time to put Nürnberg 3-1 up until Onur Ayik scored what was to become a consolation for the hosts.
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