Dortmund's Gregor Kobel applauds team effort in win over Newcastle

By SABC Sport
26th October 2023

In a thrilling UEFA Champions League showdown at St. James' Park, Borussia Dortmund secured a 1-0 victory against Newcastle United.

This was their first win of the season's Champions League campaign. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who played a pivotal role in this success, praised his teammates and the electric atmosphere that engulfed the stadium.

With over 50,000 passionate fans from both England and Germany in attendance - a testament to the 3000 away fan tickets BVB had sold - the stage was set for an intense clash. Felix Nmecha's goal provided the vital lead for BVB, and they valiantly defended it in the second half to secure the much-needed win.

Kobel, reflecting on the match, commented, "I always try to help my team and be there when they need me. Towards the end, we had some luck when they hit the bar twice. Newcastle press extremely aggressively.

"It was very intense. We were in a bad situation after the first two games with only one point and knew it was a must-win game. We showed a lot of effort and a lot of heart."

This hard-fought victory was crucial for Borussia Dortmund, as they had been facing a challenging start to their Champions League campaign with just one point from their first two matches. The win reinvigorated their hopes of advancing in the tournament.

Looking ahead, these two teams are set to collide again, this time on Dortmund's turf in two weeks. However, before that rematch, BVB has a series of important matches lined up in the Bundesliga and cup competitions.

They're on the road this Saturday to face Eintracht Frankfurt, followed by three consecutive home fixtures. First up, they take on TSG Hoffenheim in the DFB-Pokal on November 1, leading up to a high-octane Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich on November 4. Finally, they return to Champions League action, hosting Newcastle United on Tuesday, November 7.

Dortmund's resolute performance in Newcastle sets the stage for an exciting future, as they aim to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches across various competitions.