“The first half was a spectacle, the second hard graft”
“It would have been even better if we’d scored one or two more goals. But you have to be satisfied with what you get. It was a great win. The fans created a cool atmosphere. It was nice to hear th...
The opening match at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK drew a crowd of 81,365 enthusiastic spectators. Gregor Kobel, upon reflecting on the game, remarked, "The first half was a spectacle, the second hard graft." Lars Ricken echoed this sentiment, stating that the initial half was "spectacular," while the subsequent period required significant effort.
The shot count demonstrated this disparity, with 14 to 0 scored in the first half and only 6 to 8 in the second half. Niko Kovac, the coach, acknowledged that during the latter half, "we played a little less the way I had imagined." The coach opted for a bold, offensive lineup featuring Ricken, coupled with Daniel Svensson's flawless performance in the left center-back position.
BVB's decision to adopt a more attacking approach paid off, as demonstrated by Jobe Bellingham's opening goal, set up by an excellent vertical pass to Konstantinos Karetsas. The swift progression followed, culminating in Karetsas scoring his 61st goal in his 98th appearance for BVB. The coach's decision to prioritize an offensive strategy proved decisive, with Ricken emphasizing the team's capability to produce extraordinary results.
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