2016-17 DFB-Pokal Round of 16: Borussia Dortmund vs. Hertha BSC

That's a guess lineup.

 

Castro needs game time even if BVB decides to sell him in the next window. When the other midfield options are worse (Rode), injured (Götze) or not fit enough to last a whole match (Guerreiro), utility players like Castro are a big help for the English weeks.

 

Oh, come on... Seriously!? No Passlack and Merino?

 

It's just a predicted line-up. Who knows what the actual team will look like given Tuchel's constant tinkering.

 

Full strength tonight so we will see some rotation in Darmstadt with Benfica next week.

 

Looks like 3-4-3 again. No Götze in the squad.

Unsere Bank: // Our subs: Weidenfeller, Ginter, Castro, Schürrle, Pulisic, Kagawa, Passlack. #bvbbsc pic.twitter.com/tIpsBle3L5

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) February 8, 2017

 

1 - For the 1st time under head coach Thomas Tuchel @BVB starts 2 consecutive comp. matches with the same starting 11. Steady. #BVBBSC pic.twitter.com/ZNuzQEtfdS

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 8, 2017

 

Classy from Dembele but Auba should have buried that 1 on 1..

 

Auba blows a 1 on 1 again as did Ibisevic after an unusual brainfart by Sokratis.

 

And we concede. Way too easy for them.

 

Hertha have squeeze the middle of the pitch not allowing Weigl any space or time and have effectively killed off any semblance of build up play. The way it's going only individual lay will get us a result.

 

its the final pass thats been sloppy

 

This seems to be the most effective tactic against Dortmund. Pressing Weigl intensely so he can't turn and pic out passes up field totally disrupts the build-up play.

 

wasnt his man to mark in the first place

 

Let's hope Dembele does something magical and Reus/Auba are more clinical than they have been.

 

Tuchel does nothing to change this. He decided on Rode rather than another central midfielder to help Weigl. He plays Schmelzer and Piszczek at full backs/wing backs who are bad with possession. Today he has Durm and Schmelzer as the wing backs, which team is going to be scared of those two? He can't be more direct, because none of the front three are great at winning long balls.

I expect the same mistakes to be made again and again.

 

Pulisic and Ginter subbed in.

Good thing is that the ref handed out yellows early instead of useless warnings. We have the guys to force then into duals.

 

Reus scores. Great pass to find Dembele and nice composure by Pulisic to assist Reus.

 

Bartra has careless moments every game. Can't they instruct him not to rush towards the ball carrier when he gives the ball away upfield? Just drop back to defensive shape and protect the six yard box.

 

ffs not castro.