Borussia Dortmund – Hamburger SV 3:2 (0:2)

0:1 Otele (19th), 0:2 Sambi Lokonga (38th), 1:2 Bensebaini (73rd/FE), 2:2 Guirassy (78th), 3:2 Bensebaini (84th/HE)

Specific incident: Dortmund’s Nmecha misses a penalty kick (45th)

The most important thing in brief: Borussia Dortmund barely avoided their third defeat of the season in the Bundesliga with a second-half attack against Hamburger SV. After a very bad first half with a missed penalty and a 0-2 deficit, BVB won 3-2 against Hamburger SV. Goals from substitutes Ramy Bensebaini (73rd minute, foul penalty/84th, hand penalty) and Serhou Guirassy (78th) saved the second-place team from embarrassment.

The promoted team took the lead before the break through Philip Otele (19th) and Albert Sambi Lokonga (38th). Felix Nmecha also missed a penalty (45th).

Nine points behind League leaders Bayern Munich and eight points ahead of third-placed TSG Hoffenheim – Bundesliga football team Borussia Dortmund is well on its way to its tenth runner-up title. Nevertheless, coach Niko Kovac doesn’t want to waste any thought on using the remaining eight games of the season to experiment with even more young players or with alternative systems.

Before the top game on Saturday evening (6.30 p.m./Sky) against Hamburger SV, Kovac said: “I don’t see any room to experiment because we haven’t achieved anything yet.” There are still eight games left, some of them very difficult games against competitors. “We mustn’t feel safe.” If you start being careless in the Bundesliga and taking things lightly, then anything could happen. “To try something new, we have the preparation next season – now there are no experiments until the end.”

After cruciate ligament tear: Can before extension at BVB

The BVB is the best second half team in the Bundesliga so far with 22 points. “And we want to remain the best team in the second half of the season,” said Kovac. The BVB coach expects an “intense game” against HSV, who didn’t lose a single one of their four away games in the second half of the season.

Left-back Ramy Bensebaini returns to the squad after a yellow card suspension. Defender Filippo Mané continues to train individually. Emre Can underwent surgery after tearing his cruciate ligament and is completing rehab in Dortmund. According to media reports, the captain is about to sign an extension with BVB. As the TV broadcaster Sky reports, the club and players have agreed to extend the contract, which expires in the summer, by another year. The signing should take place before the Bundesliga home game against Hamburger SV on Saturday.