UNDATED: It should have been a big step towards the Champions League knockout stage, but last year’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund were left fretting about their future after a 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp was back on the bench on Wednesday following his two-game suspension and more than 60,000 fans were looking forward to celebrating their second win over Arsenal in less than a month.
Instead they got sucker-punched when Aaron Ramsey nodded in with the visitor’s first chance in the 62nd minute, inflicting a first home defeat for Dortmund by an English club.
“This was nasty, vicious,” Klopp told reporters. “It feels very unfair but just have to accept it.”
Dortmund, potential title contenders after a fine start to the domestic and European season, now find themselves with their backs to the wall, needing to win both of their remaining two matches to make sure of a spot in the last 16.
With two wins in their last two group games, including their 2-1 victory over Arsenal in London, Dortmund looked to be hitting the top form that carried them all the way to the final last season.
But yesterday’s setback could prove costly as they dropped to third on six points, three behind Arsenal and Napoli.
The hosts, with a perfect record in their eight home games this season, were the better team before being stunned by Arsenal’s opening offensive effort.
“Football is a sport based on results. We had super moments but could not convert our chances,” the Dortmund coach said. (Reuters)
