Jobe Bellingham sees straight red as Borussia Dortmund drop points in a 1-1 draw at Freiburg, with another setback in a stuttering Bundesliga campaign.
Borussia Dortmund’s difficult Bundesliga run continued with a 1-1 draw away at Freiburg. The match was defined by a straight red card shown to Jobe Bellingham early in the second half. The England Under 21 midfielder endured another tough afternoon in Germany. Dortmund controlled the game before the dismissal but failed to protect their lead. The dropped points leave Dortmund with only two wins from their last five league matches. Momentum continues to stall at a crucial stage of the season.
Dortmund began with confidence and tempo at the Europa Park Stadion. They moved the ball sharply and limited Freiburg to speculative efforts. The breakthrough arrived on the half hour. Ramy Bensebaini finished from close range after a well worked set piece. It was a deserved reward for Dortmund’s dominance. Serhou Guirassy and Carney Chukwuemeka both threatened again before the break. Freiburg struggled to cope with Dortmund’s movement between the lines.
The match shifted dramatically eight minutes into the second half. A loose pass from Gregor Kobel put Bellingham under pressure inside his own half. As Philipp Treu broke clear, Bellingham clipped him from behind. Referee Felix Zwayer showed a straight red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Dortmund protested briefly but the decision stood. They were forced to play more than half an hour with ten men.
With the extra man, Freiburg increased the pressure. Dortmund dropped deeper and struggled to retain possession. The equaliser arrived in the 75th minute. Lucas Höler produced a superb acrobatic finish from Christian Günter’s cross. The stadium erupted as Freiburg finally made their advantage count. Freiburg pushed for a winner late on. Dortmund defended desperately and were relieved to hear the final whistle.
Before the red card, Dortmund had controlled possession and territory. Their expected goals edge reflected a strong first half display, dropping from 0.93xG in the first half to 0.10xG in the second. After the dismissal, Freiburg registered the majority of shots. Dortmund were reduced to containment rather than control. The result means Dortmund remain unbeaten in seven league matches. However, too many draws continue to slow their progress and allows Bayern to open a nine-point gap to joint second place Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
Bensebaini stood out for Dortmund with a composed defensive display and a rare league goal. Guirassy worked tirelessly despite limited service after the red card. For Freiburg, Höler changed the game with his moment of quality. Günter’s delivery from the left remained a constant threat. Kobel’s distribution error proved costly and altered the entire flow of the contest. It was a decisive moment in an otherwise solid performance.
Dortmund return home for their final match before the winter break. They host Borussia Monchengladbach knowing Bellingham will miss the game through suspension. Freiburg face an away trip to Wolfsbnext. They will look to build on a point earned through patience and persistence.
