Player Ratings Borussia Dortmund 3 Werder Bremen 2 [VIDEO]

Juergen Klopp’s last home match as head coach will go down as a successful conclusion to a remarkable seven-year stint, as he bows out on a high, yet very emotional, note.

Just in time for Klopp’s lap of honour, rain started teeming down from the Dortmund evening clouds, as if the sky wanted to take part in the collective emotional farewell. The conditions had been more amicable for the football part of the event, which somewhat condensed Dortmund’s strengths and weaknesses this season in 90 minutes.

Rampant up front and rather shaky in the back, Shinji Kagawa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched up one each in the space of two minutes (15’, 17’), but another defensive slip quickly helped Bremen’s Levin Oeztunali get one back before the half-hour mark. It took a Henrikh Mkhitaryan master stroke to give BVB a two goal cushion before halftime, who must have felt it was a good occasion to score his personal – and possibly the team’s – goal of the season. Werder Bremen did not have the makings to respond to this strike quickly.

While they did convert a late free kick to make it 3-2, both sides appeared to have realized that this was Klopp’s, retiring skipper Sebastian Kehl’s, and by extension Dortmund’s day.

Borussia Dortmund

Roman Weidenfeller – 6.5: Solid performance from the returning German goalkeeper in what many speculate could have been his goodbye match too. Timed two runs out of the box well and diffused the situations, one arguably slightly crude with both legs first and studs up. One minor fumble aside a calm figure in goal.

Erik Durm – 7.0: Went diligently up and down the right-side, and increasingly clicks with Mkhitaryan in front of him. Had some powerful runs and whipped in a handful of incisive crosses. Defensively not to blame for any of the Werder breakthroughs.

Mats Hummels – 8.5: Had an almost flawless display with the exception of the first goal against Dortmund, where he misread Oeztunali’s move and fell for his feint. Oeztunali pretends to go past Hummels on the left, but then much to his surprise darts wide, capitalises on the space and finishes off. Apart from this one, however, a strong performance by Hummels, studded with astute tacklings and clever passes.

Neven Subotic – 7.0: Okay day at the office. No blunders, but also no other eye brow raising scenes. Played his part in the 2-1, when the entire backline was in disarray and taken by surprise. Other than that reliable.

Marcel Schmelzer – 6.0: Surrounded by a fiery Dortmund side, Schmelzer failed to leave his mark on the game. The first Werder goal and many of their attacks materialized on his side of the defense, which is likely not a coincidence. Paled in direct comparison to other wingback Durm, his runs and passes seem a bit more heavy-footed these days.

Ilkay Guendogan – 8.0: Visibly eager to give Klopp, Kehl and reportedly himself a good send-off. More than usual engaged in midfield battles and active to dictate the game from central-midfield. Looked sharp most of the time and hinted at what sort of player he can be if things fall into place. A fine parade for clubs interested in signing up the skilled midfielder.

Sebastian Kehl – 5.5: Perhaps a bit nostalgic after he had received his flowers and rapturous applause from the crowd before kick off. Almost lethargic at times and not living up to his abilities in his last home match for BVB. He did the legwork for Guendogan as usual, however, some sloppy passes and a pretty tenuous ninety minutes from the parting skipper.

Marco Reus – 7.5: Solid warm up for Reus, who got his first match back in the starting eleven after injury. Had an active 70 minutes including a fine pass for Aubameyang and some nifty shots, before being subbed-off.

Shinji Kagawa – 8.5: Put on a strong show to farewell his mentor Klopp. Stayed level-headed before scoring his first and like Mkhitaryan, speeded up BVB’s midfield a couple of notches with intelligent runs and passes.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 9.0: Mkhitaryan critics will rub their eyes in disbelief at this one. What has happened to the Armenian’s confidence since Klopp announced his departure? Nimble feet, a perfect first touch and mercurial speed. Watch his goal which made the match 3-1, you would be forgiven to think it was the finishing of a small, fleet-footed Argentinian. BVB would sit much higher in the table if he had shown these displays more consistently. Best player on the pitch, and in this form bearer of all hope for next week and season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 8.5: The Gabonese striker worked tirelessly up front and topped his efforts with a cool finish after a neat one two with Kagawa. Hit the post early in the match and could have netted more than one.

Substitutes

Ciro Immobile – 4.5: Subbed on after 70 minutes, innocuous, low-key performance.

Milos Jojic – 6.5: Finally back in the team, got ten minutes to prove himself and did not disappoint.

Sven Bender – N/A: A tactical substitution in stoppage time.

https://youtu.be/7e59TBqUMD0

Werder Bremen

Koen Casteels – 7.5: Not an easy afternoon for the Werder custodain, who did his best to deny Dortmund’s strikers further chances. Pulled off multiple saves and thwarted a hammering.

Theodor Gebre Selassie – 5.0: Got on the scoring sheet by tapping in a Junuzovic free kick, but except for that could only do little to impede BVB’s attacking frenzy.

Assani Lukimya – 4.0: As overwhelmed as the rest of the defense. Together with Vestergaard, flaky performance, never stood a chance against Aubameyang and the others charging at him.

Jannik Vestergaard – 4.5: Possibly a tad more convincing than Lukimya, but not difficult when you take into account the shift he put in. Just not geared up for the encounter.

Janek Sternberg – 4.0: The young left-back failed to contain Reus, which is not the worst transgression, but he offered little to make up for that on the other end. Came across intimidated and not up for an occasion so big.

Felix Kroos – 5.5: Low-key show of the holding-midfielder, who struggled to come to grips with a dynamic Dortmund midfield. Could not execute anything on the game plan simply because Kehl would not get off his toes.

Marnon Busch – 6.5: One of the livelier boys up front, but constantly beat to the punch by BVB defence. More and more disheartened throughout the game.

Zlatko Junuzovic – 6.5: To his credit, Junuzovic tried a lot of runs and boasted a positive body language. His free kick set the stage and instigated the 3-2.  

Fin Bartels – 5.0: Another Bremen player that was remarkably subdued. Observed what went on around him, never tried to put his mark on the game. Seemed replaceable at best.

Levin Oeztunali – 7.5: Arguably the best Werder player on the pitch next to keeper Casteels. Deft footwork before he scored his only goal this afternoon and darting runs again and again. He asked a lot of Hummels and Schmelzer in particular, who often did not have the right answers to his attempts.

Franco di Santo – 6.0: The tall striker put in a lot of effort and reminded the fans of his superb ball skills flaunting a sweet touch here and there. Got a few shots close to the target but at the end of the day inefficient.

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Substitutes

Melvyn Lorenzen – 6.0: Had half an hour to shine and definitely brought on some fresh wind.

Cedrick Makiadi – 4: Came on when Bremen experienced one last surge, but fell surprisingly flat.

Sebastian Proedl – N/A: Tactical substitution.