BVB, Borussia Dortmund player ratings and individual assessments at Sabah FK: alongside Guirassy, an outstanding midfielder impresses – two Dortmund players narrowly avoid a ‘5’
Borussia Dortmund make a breakthrough against Sabah FK in the Champions League after weeks of poor form. Borussia Dortmund player ratings and individual assessments.
After three consecutive games without a win, Borussia Dortmund have picked up three points again. Niko Kovac's side beat Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK 2-1, though they lacked authority. Serhou Guirassy was undoubtedly the man of the match with two goals, while Joey Veerman also impressed.
Read the match report here.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel
Initially, Kobel had little to do, but he did not cover himself in glory when Sabah equalised during a spell of pressure. He stayed rooted to his line as Aden McCarthy headed in from a few metres out. In the 42nd minute, he did much better, coming out to narrow the angle for Joy-Lance Mickels. He made several good saves after that, too. Rating: 3.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Waldemar Anton
Anton badly misplaced a pass early on, almost setting up a counter-attack. Otherwise, he played an active part in building attacks and sent several high balls forward. He initially gave little away defensively, but stood too far from his opponent when he headed in the equaliser. Rating: 3,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Nico Schlotterbeck
With a crucial intervention in the third minute, Schlotterbeck started well and went on to cover for Bensebaini several times. The ball went just past him for the 1-1 equaliser. Shortly before the end, he misplaced a pass that gave Sabah FK another opportunity and was fortunate it did not lead to a goal. Rating: 3,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Ramy Bensebaini
Far too distant from his opponent in the third minute, Bensebaini allowed Sabah's first dangerous move. He slipped awkwardly in the first half and initially stayed down, but was able to continue. After that, he looked sluggish and not at all fresh. His side grew repeatedly too open as the game went on, while every one of his shots at the other end went over the bar. Rating: 4,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Julian Ryerson
Ryerson set up Dortmund's opening goal with a simple pass in behind towards the byline and troubled the opposition with his deliveries. He was fortunate Joy-Lance Mickels was narrowly offside for his apparent equaliser. Rating: 3,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Joey Veerman
Switching play skilfully throughout, Veerman also came close to making it 2-0 with a free-kick, only for Pokatilov to make an excellent save. His passes repeatedly found team-mates in attack and set dangerous moves in motion. A pinpoint cross then gave him the assist for Dortmund's 2-1 winner. Rating: 2.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Felix Nmecha
Nmecha first threatened with a shot that Sabah goalkeeper Pokatilov saved before Guirassy followed up to score. He also won a free-kick in a promising position in the first half. But he lost the ball an unusually high number of times in dangerous areas, including once in the build-up to the free-kick from which Sabah scored their 1-1 equaliser. Rating: 4,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Daniel Svensson
On the left, Svensson frequently made himself available for a pass and stayed involved in the play. He supplied the attackers with numerous crosses and contested challenges consistently and aggressively. Defensively, though, he repeatedly showed weaknesses. He threw his body in the way against Mbina at the last moment, crucially disrupting his shot. Rating: 4.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Fabio Silva
Alert from the outset, Silva used his strength to get through in the fifth minute and create the first dangerous chance, though he could have passed to the better-placed Chukwuemeka. He repeatedly looked to shoot and proved difficult for the opposition defence to contain. For the opener, he found space superbly and pulled the ball back into the middle for Nmecha to shoot. Only a goal eluded Silva today. Rating: 2,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Carney Chukwuemeka
Making his first start of the season, the Austrian took the more attacking role in central midfield while Veerman played a little deeper. He made an early statement with an excellent through ball to Guirassy and played an important part in the opening goal. He was involved in numerous dangerous moves. Rating: 3.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy combined well with Silva several times early on, holding up numerous balls with his back to goal before laying them off to team-mates. His reward came in the 10th minute when he got into exactly the right place to turn in the rebound clinically. He kept looking to shoot and posed a considerable threat in front of the Azerbaijanis' goal, taking 8 shots in total. He also finished Veerman's cross brilliantly to make it 2-1 and nearly completed his hat-trick shortly afterwards. Rating: 1,5.
BVB, ratings for Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund: The substitutes
Marcel Sabitzer (on from 71. for Chukwuemeka): He got involved straight away and won the ball to launch a dangerous counter-attack that led to a good chance. No rating.
After replacing Bensebaini in the 71st minute, Joane Gadou: He came on amid another spell of pressure from the hosts and carried out his duties as well as he could. No rating.
Jobe Bellingham (on from 71. for Nmecha): His first touch put Silva through superbly, but Silva sent the ball wide of the goal. No rating.
Replacing Svensson in the 77th minute, Maximilian Beier: He made little impression in his short time on the pitch. No rating.
