Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Borussia Monchengladbach: Four talking points

What could've been a very different result ended with just a one-goal gap in favour of Borussia Dortmund as they prevailed over Borussia Monchengladbach in a tough Bundesliga encounter.. Both sides failed to convert what could be viewed as golden chances, in fact Dortmund had the ball in the back of the net three times but it only counted once.

Lucien Favre's starting line-up was a little difficult to decipher as he shuffled the pack in the absence of Jadon Sancho, Paco Alcacer, and Mario Gotze. Manuel Akanji played at right-back as Achraf Hakimi continued his forays forward.

The visitors had plenty of chances but Dortmund held the reins of the game for the most part. The home side came close to opening their account plenty of times in the first half, but it was only in the 58th-minute that Dortmund opened their account through their talisman Marco Reus.

Monchengladbach would finish the game on top, though, and Dortmund came within inches of losing the tie but between their two keepers, Roman Burki and Marvin Hitz, they managed to keep out the visitors. Here are the talking points of the game.

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#1. The VAR farce

Marco Reus was offside by only millimeters for what could've been the opening goal of the game.

Thorgan Hazard had a brilliant game in attack for Dortmund and made the assist for Marco Reus' goal. However, he had a goal of his own that was disallowed for offside in the build-up by VAR.

Replays showed Marco Reus almost completely behind the line except maybe a couple of studs on his boot past the last defender.

The Dortmund team just got on with the play and went about attacking again, but had they seen the margin by which they were denied, they may have reacted differently. They had missed the bus by inches and had this game turned out differently, Favre would have had a tiff with the video assistant.

Thorgan Hazard.

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#2. A night for the Swiss goalkeepers

Yann Sommer was the best of the three Swiss goalkeepers.

The score of this game could've been 3-3 had it not been for some sublime goalkeeping on the night. Dortmund's starting custodian Roman Burki made some stunning saves with his feet with his compatriot Breel Embolo bearing down on him on more than one occasion.

When Burki had to be taken off due to an injury, his replacement Marvin Hitz also did a splendid job under pressure in the final minutes of the game when Monchengladbach were just about throwing the kitchen sink at Dortmund.

The hero of the night, though, was Yann Sommer, another Swiss international who made some blinding stops to keep Monchengladbach in the game. He was partly at fault for Hazard's disallowed goal but he did little wrong apart from that. The visitors could've been in for a real hiding if not for him.

#3. Sancho, who?

Thorgan Hazard was sublime for Borussia Dortmund

Jadon Sancho was ruled out for this game as he reported back late for training while returning from international duty. Among those missing for other reasons were Paco Alcacer and Mario Gotze who have both played important roles for this team in their league campaign so far.

Dortmund's attack on the night showed plenty of potency and it really didn't feel like they missed the English winger. Achraf Hakimi and Thorgan Hazard, in particular, stepped up and making themselves be seen. The three are really building some chemistry and were involved with different moves that ended with the ball in the goal even if it didn't always count.

Of course, Reus was at the centre of things as well for Dortmund and we've come to expect that. The German international is really starting to shine with those around him beginning to take some responsibility as well.

#4. Monchengladbach threatened only on the break

Marco Rose's side were not able to create too much in possession.

The visitors have been praised for their superb counter-attacking play with Breel Embolo, Marcus Thuram, and Alissane Plea all being crucial parts of that attacking unit. Their ability to break quickly was on display with Embolo and Thuram being released on more than one occasion.

However, the current table-toppers created little from build-up play. Whenever Dortmund managed to clear a Monchengladbach break even for a few seconds and they had to recycle possession, they seemed to lose some threat in attack and failed to create coherent chances other than a couple of exceptions.

They were thwarted time and again by good goalkeeping and last-ditch defending but their best chances came on the break. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but on nights like these against bigger sides it helps to have a plan B. Marco Rose's side were lacking that alternate route.