In the spirited ambiance of North Rhine-Westphalia, amidst the occasional summer rain, Borussia Dortmund commenced their second friendly fixture of the pre-season campaign against French side LOSC Lille. Displaying a formidable lineup from the outset, Niko Kovač’s squad established a decisive first-half lead, ultimately navigating their way to a hard-fought 3-2 victory, setting a promising tone for the challenges ahead.
From the opening whistle, Borussia Dortmund asserted their dominance, immediately pressing their Ligue 1 opponents. Striker Serhou Guirassy wasted no time, testing Lucas Chevalier with a dipping strike within 90 seconds, signaling BVB’s attacking intent. The German giants continued to control possession, meticulously crafting several opportunities before a crucial breakthrough materialized in the 13th minute, rewarding their early enterprise.
BVB maintained their relentless pressure, relentlessly probing Lille’s defense. The French goalkeeper was repeatedly called into action, pulling off a remarkable save to deny Marcel Sabitzer in the 19th minute, thwarting another promising attack. Six minutes later, Sabitzer’s misfortune continued as his powerful long-range effort ferociously rattled the crossbar, narrowly missing what would have been a spectacular goal and leaving Dortmund hungry for more.
Despite their commanding performance, Dortmund remained eager to extend their lead, constantly looking the likelier side to score. However, a significant turning point arrived on the hour mark with four strategic substitutions: Alexander Meyer, Yannik Lührs, Almugera Kabar, and Joseph Boyamba entered the fray, replacing Kobel, Anton, Bensebaini, and Svensson, injecting fresh energy and youth into the squad.
The impact of Dortmund’s youthful additions was almost instantaneous, as Meyer found himself under immediate pressure. Seizing an opportunity on the break, the French club managed to pull a goal back through Haraldsson, who finished with impressive style, narrowing the deficit. Yet, BVB swiftly extinguished any notions of a comeback, restoring their two-goal cushion just two minutes later when Boyamba cleverly fed Adeyemi, who chipped over Bodart in the 68th minute.
The tension escalated as Die Schwarzgelben’s replacement shot-stopper, Meyer, reacted brilliantly to thwart André Gomes from a well-worked free-kick, preserving Dortmund’s advantage. Nevertheless, with a little over eight minutes remaining, the deficit was once again slashed to 3-2. Former BVB player Thomas Meunier bravely beat Meyer to a through ball, setting the stage for an exhilarating and nail-biting finish to the friendly encounter.
In the dying moments, the resilient side from northern France battled valiantly for a late equalizer, but Kovač’s men demonstrated unwavering resolve, ultimately holding on to secure the victory. This crucial pre-season triumph provides valuable momentum as Borussia Dortmund prepares for their final friendly match against Italian giants Juventus on August 10, before embarking on their DfB-Pokal campaign against Rot Weiss Essen just over a week later on August 18.
