[Trim]

Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Nürnberg

Nürnberg failed to beat Borussia Dortmund and claim the three points they desperately needed. The game was dominated by the two keepers, who pulled off a number of fine saves between them to keep their respective sides in the game.

Thomas Doll was forced into two changes with Marcel Höttecke coming in for the injured Marc Ziegler. Mats Hummels replaced Christian Wörns who had a stomach problem.

Thomas von Heesen decided against making any changes to the side that drew last weekend against Bielefeld, which meant that Zvejezdan Misimovic was on the bench once more.

First Half

In the cauldron of the Signal Iduna Park, Nürnberg carved out the first chance of the game after four minutes and it was Dortmund old boy Jan Koller who had the opportunity. Robert Vittek held off the challenge of Kruska, before flighting in an inviting ball for the Czech striker. He got his head to it but directed it just over the Dortmund bar.

A good ball from Ivan Saenko into the penalty area on the quarter hour mark found Vittek, who went down under the challenge of Mats Hummels. Half-hearted appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Jochen Drees and Nürnberg had to settle for a corner.

Nürnberg keeper Daniel Klewer produced a fantastic save on 25 minutes to deny Alexander Frei. The Swiss international was played through clean on goal following a super ball from Tinga which beat the offside trap. Frei attempted an early shot but 31 year old Klewer denied him with a top save.

Just after the half hour mark, Blaszczykowski burst down the right but was unceremoniously floored on the edge of the area by Pinola. Petric however fired the resulting free kick horribly high and wide.

On 38 minutes it was 21 year old Marcel Höttecke’s turn to pull off a superb save. Ivan Saenko lofted a ball into the area, and Jan Koller did well to stoop and beat Mats Hummels to the ball. His downward header looked destined for the back of the net before the young stand-in keeper pulled off a great save to parry away.

The first half saw Dortmund looking more like the away side, with Nürnberg forcing the pace and slowly increasing the pressure. Dortmund seemed happy to defend and look to hit the visitors on the break.

Second Half

Both sides came out unchanged at the start of the second half, and Dortmund started brightly. A Kringe cross was flapped at by Klewer at the start of the second period, before hitting Pinola on the arm. Despite their protests for a penalty, the referee waved play on.

Minutes later and Blaszczykowki advanced before letting fly from 25 meters, but keeper Klewer got down well again to save. The resulting corner saw Alexander Frei get a header in which Jan Koller did well to clear from just in front of the goal line with the keeper beaten.

The game was improving as an attacking spectacle and on 55 minutes, Jan Koller squared a great ball to Robert Vittek, which just needed converting, but the Slovak got his feet in a muddle and fluffed the chance.

‘Lady Luck’ was certainly not shining on Nürnberg on 58 minutes when Marek Mintal was fed well by Jan Koller, but he saw his shot deflect off Robert Kovac and against the crossbar.

On 72 minutes Alex Frei once again beat the Nürnberg offside trap and bore down on goal, but yet again ‘der Klub’ keeper Daniel Klewer got the better of him with a fine save with his leg.

It really was a game for the two keepers as Höttecke pulled off a great save to match what Klewer had done for Nürnberg. A Misimovic free kick from the bye line was flicked goalwards by Galasek, but the young BVB keeper clawed the ball away as Jan Koller looked to pounce.

On 86 minutes Andreas Wolf was booked for a foul on Klimowicz on the edge of the area, but was lucky not to have been punished with a penalty.

Neither side was able to find a way though in the end, leaving the away side frustrated as they failed to claim the three points they so desperately needed. With three matches remaining now, ‘der Klub’ now face a hugely difficult task to remain in the top flight.

Borussia Dortmund: Höttecke, Rukavina, Hummels, Kovac, Dede, Kruska (Buckley 63), Kringe, Tinga, Blaszczykowski, Frei, Petric (Klimowicz 63)

Nürnberg: Klewer, Jacobsen, Wolf, Abardonardo, Pinola, Galasek, Engelhardt (Mnari 83), Mintal, Vittek, Saenko (Misimovic 63), Koller

Goal.com - Germany - All Square As Dortmund Hold Wolfsburg