Dortmund Look To Haaland To Help Reboot Bundesliga Title Bid
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published February 14, 2020 | 10:00 AM
Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2020 ) :Borussia Dortmund must tighten their defence and trust teenage striker Erling Braut Haaland to provide the goals against Bundesliga giant-killers Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday after a "week to forget".
Dortmund conceded two goals inside 82 seconds late on during last Saturday's 4-3 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen which left senior club bosses fuming.
After eight goals in his four previous games, it was the first time new signing Haaland, 19, had failed to score for Dortmund.
Former captain Sebastian Kehl said the Leverkusen defeat capped a "week to forget", four days after being dumped out of the German Cup with a 3-2 loss at Werder Bremen.
"We're conceding too many goals, which often means we lose the reward for our work as we're scoring enough," said sporting director Michael Zorc.
The league and cup disappointments leave third-placed Dortmund lagging four points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
It will be no easy task to reboot their title challenge at Signal Iduna Park against Frankfurt, while they also have Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain looming on the horizon.
Dortmund are missing injured forwards Marco Reus and Julian Brandt, while visitors Frankfurt have already claimed two big scalps in the league this season.
Bayern suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt last November, and second-placed RB Leipzig also went down 2-0 at the Commerzbank Arena in January.
Dortmund coach Lucien Favre has been correcting defensive flaws in training after neither Manuel Akanji nor centre-back partner Mats Hummels covered themselves in glory in Leverkusen.
"It takes time to correct a few things, but it's coming," said Favre, who comes under more pressure with each defeat.
"I don't see any other solution apart from work, work, work." In the four Bundesliga games since the winter break, Dortmund have scored 18 goals but conceded eight.
January signing Emre Can urged his teammates to "play dirty -- a foul here, defend better there".
Eintracht welcome back Dutch striker Bas Dost after a stomach bug kept him sidelined for last weekend's 5-0 thumping of Augsburg.
Bayern could be without captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at Cologne on Sunday as the Germany skipper has a virus, with reserve keeper Sven Ulreich on stand-by.
The reigning champions are bidding for a seventh win in eight league games, after being held to a goalless draw by Leipzig last Sunday.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
185 held for violating 'roti' price orders in 6 days
Record-setting Duplantis lights up Xiamen, Richardson upset
Dry weather to prevail in most parts of country:PMD
Open letter to customers from Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline
4th Int'l Public Health Conference concluded
DG SBCA says launching one window operation soon besides setting up complaint ce ..
Heavy rain and hailstorm paralyse life in Hazara division
RoboTec 24 kicked off in Mechatronics Department Hayatabad
Commissioner orders 100pc recovery of DMC fee from defaulters
Police arrest two wanted criminals: SSP Larkana
Commissioner for comprehensive strategy against measles as 203 cases detected
Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) recovers 39 kg drugs in nine operations
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
1 day ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
5 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
6 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
6 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
9 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
11 days ago
-
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
13 days ago -
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
13 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
13 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
13 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
15 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
15 days ago