Defeat in ´incredible´ Klassiker tough for Dortmund to accept

Lucien Favre saw plenty of reasons for optimism in an “incredible” Klassiker, but defeat still hurt for Borussia Dortmund against title rivals Bayern Munich.

Dortmund slipped to third on Saturday, three points behind leaders Bayern after a 3-2 win for the defending champions at Signal Iduna Park.

BVB led through Marco Reus late in the first half but quickly conceded a deflected equaliser to David Alaba, setting the stage for Robert Lewandowski to mark his 300th game for Bayern with his 259th goal – his 19th in 22 against his former club – after the interval.

Lewandowski then sent through Leroy Sane for number three, before Erling Haaland brought Dortmund back into the game, although that goal proved in vain as Reus missed a huge chance to equalise.

There were 29 shots in all, not including two disallowed Bayern goals, in an epic back-and-forth.

And although Hansi Flick’s side could have been out of sight before Haaland teed up a tense finish, the home coach felt hard done by.

Favre said: “It was a good game overall, very good for the spectators on TV.

“We had many, many chances to score – even in the first half. All in all, we have to be positive, we did a good job. We had so many chances to score, it was incredible.

“But we conceded three goals and lost. It’s hard to accept.”

Not our day. pic.twitter.com/pV4ygPn2Kt

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) November 7, 2020

Favre’s two centre-backs disagreed on whether Dortmund deserved better, with Mats Hummels suggesting his team were unfortunate.

“There was a lack of calm in front of the goal,” the ex-Bayern man said. “What can you say?

“All three goals conceded were deflected. We didn’t dominate, but we were not lucky either. It was an attacking game. Unfortunately, we missed many, many good opportunities.

“Fortune and misfortune are often decisive in the top games, but we tried again and again.

“In the end, we go home with zero points in a game that can end differently. It’s a shame, but that’s football.”

As Hummels appeared to bemoan Dortmund’s inability to take their chances – hitting the target with just five of their 15 efforts – defensive colleague Manuel Akanji was equally concerned by lapses at the back.

Alaba’s free-kick – Bayern’s 100th Bundesliga goal under Flick – was the first BVB had conceded in 441 minutes in the league, yet Akanji acknowledged fault at both ends of the field.

“Three goals is too many,” he said. “Too much is expected of our attack to score three or four goals.

“We had the chances up front, but we weren’t efficient enough. And then we allowed too many chances at the back.

“We see that we can compete; we had enough chances. We have to exploit them and work even better defensively. Then we’ll see where that leads.”