Borussia Dortmund were left with mixed feelings as they prepare to host Celtic in the Champions League after staging what midfielder Felix Nmecha described as a “simply awesome” comeback to defeat Bochum 4-2.
Looking to bounce back from their 5-1 Bundesliga mauling away to Stuttgart, Nuri Sahin’s side fell two goals behind their derby rivals but ultimately made it three home wins out of three this season to sit fourth in the table.
Slovakia international Matus Bero was played behind the defence to score before fellow midfielder Dani de Wit pounced on goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s mistake to put the visitors two ahead within 20 minutes.
However, Serhou Guirassy headed a reply and, after the break, Germany midfielder Emre Can equalised from the penalty spot before the Guinea striker fired his second and Nmecha completed the scoring from range.
“In this stadium, you always have the feeling that anything can happen,” Nmecha told his club website. “After the first goal, the hope came back and, after that, it was simply awesome.
“We wanted to play better football, we didn’t want to concede any goals. If we can learn from it, that’s good.”
Sahin thought the win was “100% deserved” after a shot count of 23-9 but added: “It was not all good, but we have three points.”
Especially so since Bochum’s Myron Boadu missed a great chance to make it 3-0.
Giovanni Reyna, who is back in training after a muscle injury, and fellow midfielder Marcel Sabitzer had both missed out, although the latter could recover in time to face Celtic.
Sabitzer was one of three changes from the team that lost to Stuttgart, with Can, on-loan Manchester City defender Yan Couto and English midfielder Jamie Gittens coming into the starting line-up and Niklas Sule and Nmecha dropping to the bench.