Borussia Dortmund through to last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with Lazio draw
Raphael Guerreiro’s first-half goal was cancelled out by a penalty by former Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile, but the 1-1 draw was enough for BVB to secure their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
There was just a point between Dortmund and Lazio at the top of Group F before the game, but it was the leaders who took control of the match, with captain Marco Reus playing in a false 9 position and frequently looking to burst from deep. Thorgan Hazard fired a shot over, but it was the visitors who came closest after Sergej Milinkovic-Savic teed up Francesco Acerbi, but he contrived to miss the target from only a couple of yards out. Hazard and Reus then both went close again; the former’s shot parried by ex-Bayern Munich goalkeeper Pepe Reina before the skipper teased the rebound agonisingly wide. Dortmund did have their lead on the stroke of half-time, though, when Thomas Delaney picked up a Reina clearance in midfield and set the forward away. Three passes later and Guerreiro was onto Hazard’s well-weighted through ball and poked it into the Lazio net.
Gio Reyna and Hazard both had efforts early into the second half, but BVB then had to contend with a spell of Lazio pressure. Immobile forced a good low save out of Roman Bürki, but the former Dortmund striker did have his goal on his return to the Signal Iduna Park when he converted from the penalty spot after Milinkovic-Savic went down under a challenge from Nico Schulz. Immobile came close to a winner against his former club, but Bürki was equal to the effort from 18 yards. The point was enough to ensure progress from Group F for Lucien Favre’s side. Club Brugge’s win at home to Zenit Saint Petersburg means top spot is still on the line when Dortmund to go Russia next Tuesday.
Match stats
Guerreiro scored his first Champions League goal of the season and the seventh of his career. His last one came just short of two years ago against Monaco, on 11 December 2018.
Hazard provided his first Champions League assist since November 2016, when he was still a Borussia Mönchengladbach player.
Immobile has scored in all four of his Champions League games at the Signal Iduna Park – three times for Dortmund, now once for Lazio.
Dortmund are into the last 16 of the Champions League for the seventh time in their last eight participation in the competition.
BVB have scored 38 goals in 16 competitive matches this season.
Champions League Matchday 5 Matchday 5 Signal Iduna Park
DORTMUND REACH LAST 16
Dortmund advance with room to spare, so that's at least two Bundesliga clubs into the round of 16! The Black-Yellows face a Zenit outfit with nothing to play for on Matchday 6, knowing they will progress as Group F winners as long as they match Lazio's result against Club Brugge, who are also in the running.
Full-time
90'
+ 4
BÜRKI!!!!
Bürki pulls off another fine save, this time to prevent Pereira's late free-kick from stealing all three points. Superb stuff from the Swiss stopper!
90'
+ 2
HUMMELS CONCERN
Hummels is hobbling about after a clash of shins with Immobile. It looks like he's going to see out the remainder, though.
89'
TIME ADDED ON
Four additional minutes at the Signal Iduna Park...
The Dortmund goalkeeper flies across his goal to tip a fierce Immobile volley around the post. He's been one of BVB's best players tonight.
86'
MADE IN ENGLAND
Messrs Sancho and Bellingham combine to take the sting out of a decent Lazio spell of possession. Master feeds student, who forces a routine save from Reina.
83'
FRESH LEGS
Lazio have used all five of their allotted subs. Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre still has three at his disposal, including Axel Witsel and the aforementioned Moukoko. Should the teenager feature, he'll make history as the youngest player in Champions League history.
Akanji wellies a free-kick into the Lazio wall from 20 yards. Morey takes on the loose ball, but slams wide. Will we see 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko in the closing stages?
That was Immobile's fourth Champions League goal in as many games at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park. Three fell during his stint as a BVB player during the 2014/15 campaign. He hit 10 in 34 competitive appearances for the Black-Yellows, all told.
This is harsh on Dortmund, and substitute Nico Schulz. He tangles with Milinkovic-Savic, who goes to ground a touch too easily. The referee has a good think, before pointing to the spot. Immobile converts for 1-1.
Bürki hasn't had much to do, but he gets right behind a rocket of a shot from Patric, struck from fully 25 yards. Lazio win a corner soon after and, with Immobile lurking, Bürki gets a big hand on the ball to swat clear.
51'
HAZARD FROM RANGE
Hazard chances his arm from distance, but it doesn't find the target. BVB building up a head of steam right now...
50'
REYNA DENIED BY REINA
Luis Alberto had pop from range soon after the restart. It didn't trouble Bürki, but this next effort from young Gio Reyna does force Pepe Reina into action. It's a big save from the Spaniard after Reus had punished some sloppy play from the visitors.
46'
DORTMUND ON POLE
No changes from Dortmund - or Lazio for that matter. BVB are heading through as group winners with a game to spare, as things stand...
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
DORTMUND LEAD!
Brilliant from Dortmund. Hazard picks off Reina's loose clearance and sets Guerreiro away with a superbly weighted pass. The finish is clinical to send BVB in 1-0 up at the break. What a time to break the deadlock!
Morey does well to take the ball off Correa, but his back-pass sells Bürki short. Luckily for him, the BVB stopper beats Immobile to it, taking a knock for his efforts.
32'
REYNA HAS A GO
The boy Gio is really up for this. The American takes on the ball from Reus, before slamming an effort past the upright. There are goals for Dortmund in this...
31'
REUS - NO!
Gah! Dortmund respond in kind, and very nearly take the lead. Former Bayern keeper Reina does very well to get something on a Hazard stinger, with Reus sending the rebound agonisingly wide.
29'
ALMOST THE OPENER
Massive let-off for Dortmund as Acerbi contrives to miss the target from barely two yards following a great bit of play from Milinkovic-Savic. Let's hope that comes back to haunt him!
26'
OVER FROM HAZARD
Dortmund work the ball very nicely to Thorgan Hazard in the Lazio area. He scored in Bruges on Matchday 3, but can't keep this particular effort down.
22'
REYNA IN THE MOOD
Gio Reyna advances on the Lazio area, but not for the first time his goal-bound shot is charged down by a sky-blue shirt. If he finds the net, he'll eclipse Christian Pulisic as the youngest American to score in the Champions League...
20'
LAZIO THREATEN
First sign of Lazio as an attacking unit as Akanji concedes possession in his own half. It's three-on-three, but Hummels mops up to clear the danger. The visitors come again through Correa, who draws the first save of the contest from Bürki.
17'
PERMUTATIONS
Just a reminder that Dortmund only need a point to qualify for the knockout rounds, but a win would seal top spot in Group F, and secure a more favourable draw in the round of 16.
10'
DORTMUND ASKING QUESTIONS
Mateu Morey advances up the right and pings an inviting ball towards the near post, but no one attacks it and Lazio can clear. Dortmund on top in the early exchanges...
6'
CLEAR LINES
Lazio's 5-3-2 formation when defending is clear to see. They're allowing Dortmund control of the ball but keeping their shape.
2'
QUICK PLAY
Dortmund immediately on the front foot as Reus makes a charge from deep. He picks out Reyna, but his shot is blocked for a corner.
Kick-off!
TEAMS OUT
We're moments away from kick-off at the Signal Iduna Park...
CIRO'S BACK IN TOWN
Ciro Immobile returns to the Signal Iduna Park, having scored 10 goals in a BVB shirt in 2014/15. The Italy international wears the captain's armband, with Marco Parolo dropping to the bench. Wesley Hoedt and Patric are preferred to Luis Felipe and Radu in defence.
NO HAALAND
He's scored in all four of Dortmund's Group F games so far this season, but a muscular injury rules out Erling Haaland. Captain Marco Reus leads the line in the Norway international's stead, with Gio Reyna and Thorgan Hazard on the flanks. Raphael Guerreiro returns at left-wing-back, while there's a rare start for Spanish talent Mateu Morey on the opposite flank. With Emre Can also out and Axel Witsel on the bench, Jude Bellingham partners Thomas Delaney in midfield. Defender Lukasz Piszczek makes only his third start of the season. Jadon Sancho is among the substitutes.
WELCOME!
Can Dortmund book their place alongside Bayern in the knockout rounds with room to spare? Stay tuned to find out...
