German Regionalliga West round-up: Dortmund II win tight game to maintain seven-point lead

Jason Hamburger
April 6, 2021

The Playbook @genius_playbook

💫 Roger Schmidt’s #Benfica have been electric this season. Their form at the Estádio da Luz was the key:

🔴 45 goals
🔴 47.3 xG
🔴 6.7 shots on goal per game
🔴 34.5 touches in opp. box per game
🔴 33.9 line-breaking passes per game

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica twitter.com/slbenfica_en/s…

SL Benfica

@slbenfica_en

W FOR 𝑹𝑶𝑮𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑨𝑳𝑳 🔥🔥🔥

The Playbook @genius_playbook

🔴 @SLBenfica: campeões 🏆

A 3-0 win over Santa Clara sealed the deal for #Benfica, who claimed their record-extending 38th league title. It’s their first #LigaPortugal championship victory in four years. 🔥

#SLB38 | #EuAmoOBenfica

The Playbook @genius_playbook

📊 The game that lost @FCNordsjaelland the title.

@FCKobenhavn were handed the title by #fcn‘s loss to rivals @BrondbyIF. Nordsjaelland had more shots, more corners, and OVER 300 MORE completed passes (397-700).

But #Brøndby won where it matters most. ⚽️

#fcklive | #sldk

Tigges shows class to give BVB the win

Borussia Dortmund II maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the German Regionalliga West with a tight 1-0 win against fourth-placed side Fortuna Köln.

Oster-Heimsieg! 🙌 #BVBU23 pic.twitter.com/3j7F1Bilkg

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 4, 2021

Steffen Tigges scored the only goal of the game in the 50th minute to net his 18th league goal of the season and secure a crucial win for the Black and Yellows.

First half

The first half was mostly dominated by the hosts. Tigges threatened with a header from a Dominik Wanner’s cross that went just past the post.

Their biggest chance came minutes later on the counter attack. Alaa Bakir won the ball back and fed Richmond Tachie, who cut inside and had a shot saved. The rebound fell to Tigges but his two attempts were blocked.

Second half

Fortuna Koln started to threaten at the beginning of the second half. Their best chance came when the ball fell kindly for Mike Owusu at the back post, but his shot was well saved by Luca Unbehaun.

BVB broke the deadlock with a stunning goal in the 50th minute. Bakir picked the ball up just outside the area and drifted past three defenders before pulling the ball back for Tigges.

The striker turned in the box, held off a couple of defenders and showed all his composure and strength to find the bottom corner.

Aday Ercan replaced Tigges a few minutes later and had a chance to double the lead but blazed over.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser and went close with a header from Jannik Löhden. Dortmund held on to win their third successive game.

What it means

Enrico Maaßen’s side have now taken 30 points from 12 games in 2021 and have taken pole position in the Regionalliga West division.

They face in-form side Preussen Munster on Wednesday in a huge game between the two sides with the best records in 2021. Preussen Muenster have risen to third in the table after a 13-game unbeaten run. Fortuna Köln remain fourth.

RW Essen back on track

Elsewhere, RW Essen hammered Schalke II 5-0 to potentially reignite their title ambitions after an indifferent run of form.

✊ Wir kämpfen #immeRWEiter! 💪🙏#nurderrwe #RWES04 pic.twitter.com/w5rrwUgnUs

— Rot-Weiss Essen (@rot_weiss_essen) April 4, 2021

It was the second home game in a row that they have scored at least four, but it was their first win in three league games.