After the game started, Dortmund, as usual, planned to utilize high pressing and intense running to confront Werder Bremen.
However, to their surprise, the opposing team showed no fear and engaged in a fierce battle.
The pace on the field is lightning-fast, with the ball scarcely staying at the feet of either team for more than a few seconds before being snatched away.
This abnormal situation left Dortmund's coach Jurgen Klopp restless.
He suspiciously glanced at Werder Bremen's coaching bench, where he saw their head coach, Thomas Schaaf, sitting calmly without any reaction to the on-field events.
It seemed that this is the opponent's tactical strategy!
Do they want to engage in a brawl?
Heh, the people from Werder Bremen probably don't know what it means to face a disastrous outcome.
A team that dares to confront Dortmund will surely meet their demise.
With this in mind, Klopp signaled to the players on the field, urging them to increase the game's tempo.
So, they want to fight fire with fire?
Then their wish shall be granted!
Observing Dortmund's players speeding up, Schaaf not only displayed no signs of nervousness or worry, but rather wore a smug smile on his face.
This Klopp guy had fallen right into his trap!
They want to speed up?
By all means, let them!
For this game, Schaaf made some adjustments to the team's starting lineup.
He replaced Papastathopoulos with Lukimya in defense, and the young teenager Fullkrug took up a position in the forward line.
Both players shared a common trait—they were tall, energetic, and highly motivated fighters.
Undoubtedly, the inclusion of these two players aimed to enhance the team's physicality and pressing ability.
Werder Bremen's players may not possess exceptional technical skills, not on par with Bayern Munich's players.
But are Dortmund's players any better?
Dortmund's record is impressive precisely because of their aggressive style of play.
They charge relentlessly throughout the game. Relying on the young players' remarkable physicality and unwavering drive, they exhaust their opponents through sheer persistence!
In terms of technique, can Dortmund compete with Bayern Munich?
Yet last season, Dortmund managed to defeat Bayern three times, a testament to how ruthless Klopp's tailor-made tactics for Dortmund are!
If they play the whole game, even if Werder Bremen replaces their entire squad with young players, they would still be no match for Dortmund.
However, their strategy is to fight fiercely for the first five minutes of the game.
In those crucial minutes, the Werder Bremen players can undoubtedly match Dortmund's rhythm.
Therefore, despite Dortmund's increased tempo, the situation on the field remained unchanged.
Dortmund still struggled to maintain possession, and Werder Bremen faced similar challenges.
Both sides frequently committed fouls in midfield, with players from both teams getting knocked around. Even Lucas is brought down twice by the opponents within just two minutes.
As the key contributor to Werder Bremen's victory over Bayern Munich in the previous game, Dortmund's players ise well aware of his threat.
Consequently, they marked him tightly, engaging in fierce battles, employing physical confrontations and committing fouls to prevent him from comfortably receiving the ball.
Lucas rubbed his calf, feeling a bit sore from the kicks, and couldn't help but complain inwardly:
What kind of football match is this?
It feels more like a Spanish bullfight!
In such a fast-paced competition, Dortmund, with their superior cooperation and familiarity with this style of play, gradually began to gain the upper hand.
In the third minute of the game, Bittencourt dribbled the ball toward the penalty area.
Just as he was about to pass, Werder Bremen's central defender Lukimya charged forward, using his physical advantage to confront the opponent and steal the ball from under his feet.
After a successful interception, Lukimya swiftly passed the ball to Captain Fritz, and Dortmund's midfielders immediately closed in on Fritz.
Fritz didn't dare to hold onto the ball. Upon receiving it, he quickly passed it to Elia on the wing before the opponents could tackle him.
Elia sprinted with the ball towards Dortmund's half.
Seeing the opponent launching a counterattack, Dortmund's players needed no reminder as they promptly retreated, acting in perfect harmony like a well-oiled machine!
Such exceptional execution of tactics!
Along the touchline, Coach Schaaf cast a wary look at Klopp.
This guy—whatever method he used to train this group of young players into an iron-clad army—it left Schaaf somewhat fearful.
After running with the ball for over ten meters, Elia is stopped by Dortmund's full-back Kirch.
At the same time, two Dortmund players closed in on him from the left and behind, attempting to encircle him.
Dortmund's tactical approach involved utilizing their active running, creating numerical advantages in specific areas, and surrounding the ball carrier at every opportunity.
If you can't outrun them, you won't be able to launch a successful counterattack. Once you're caught in their trap, unless you possess the ability to break through and outshine players like Messi, you'll undoubtedly be intercepted.
Of course, Elia didn't possess that level of ability, so he dared not continue dribbling and swiftly passed the ball to De Bruyne, who is trailing behind.
Before De Bruyne could receive the ball, an opponent player had already rushed towards him.
Observing the pressing opponent, De Bruyne seamlessly combined the action of receiving and passing, successfully delivering the ball to forward Arnautovic just as the opponent attempted to block it.
The play is executed beautifully.
Dortmund's players truly excel in their running ability.
But regardless of how fast they can run, their speed will never surpass that of the football itself.
Consequently, when they pressed Elia and De Bruyne, naturally, there were fewer defenders around the other Werder Bremen players.
"Shoot!"
"As expected of a rising star favored by the Champions League champions, De Bruyne's control of the ball is exceptional!" exclaimed the commentator upon witnessing De Bruyne's deft pass, not only evading the opponent's press but also delivering the ball to his teammate.
Derek couldn't help but praise.
Craig chimed in, "For some viewers, let me explain that De Bruyne is a midfielder whom Chelsea acquired from Genk Club for £8 million during the winter transfer window earlier this year. He is only 21 years old, still quite young, with ample room for growth. If he develops further, he may even succeed Lampard!"
Derek added, "Lampard is a box-to-box midfielder, while De Bruyne appears to be more of an offensive attacking midfielder. He might even play as a winger. However, De Bruyne doesn't match Lampard's defensive capabilities and midfield coverage, so we can't establish a direct succession between the two."
Meanwhile, inside the penalty area, after Arnautovic received the ball, he successfully fought off Dortmund defender Hummels and passed it back to his teammates.
The 19-year-old young player Fullkrug, like a charging tank, evaded defenders from outside the penalty area and quickly kicked the ball into Dortmund's goal with a close-range strike.
The ball traveled so quickly that Dortmund's goalkeeper had no time to make a save and could only watch as it found the back of the net.
The score on the field became 1-0, and only four had passed since the match started.
In an instant, the immense Westfalenstadion descended into an eerie silence.
The Dortmund fans, known as the "Hornets," is left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what they are witnessing.
Within a mere four minutes of the game, their beloved team had fallen behind on their home turf.