Klopp relieved as Dortmund pick up first win

Published: 02 Nov 2011 - 02:46:59

Rss feed

Klopp relieved as Dortmund pick up first win

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp admitted he was relieved to pick up his first Champions League win as the German champions earned a 1-0 victory over Olympiakos.

Dortmund breathed life back into their campaign on Tuesday when forward Kevin Grosskreutz hit the winner on seven minutes with a curling thunderbolt from outside the area that gave Olympiakos goalkeeper Balasz Megyeri no chance.

After consecutive defeats at Marseille and then at Olympiakos a fortnight ago, the win at the sold-out Signal Iduna Park was Dortmund's first in Group F and takes them to within three points of second-placed Marseille.

"We had a little bit of luck here, which has been missing from our recent results" said Klopp, whose team drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal in their opening Champions League match.

Klopp changed things round before kick-off as he switched to a 4-3-3 formation from the 4-2-3-1 system which saw Dortmund win the German league title last season.

He gave 18-year-old Moritz Leitner his first start alongside captain Sebastian Kehl and Germany star Mario Goetze, himself still only 19, in a more compact midfield and Klopp said he was happy with Leitner's performance.

"We got off to a good start and the guys at the back of midfield pushed forward," he said.

"We deserved the win after what was a very good goal."

Dortmund were rewarded for their early pressure when Goetze laid the ball off to Grosskreutz on the edge of the area and the 23-year-old smashed his shot home from 25 yards for his debut Champions League goal.

After Arsenal were held to a goalless draw by Marseille in north London, Dortmund's four points mean they are four behind the Group F leaders and three adrift of Marseille, while fourth-placed Olympiakos have just three.

The German champions still have their work cut out, with a trip to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium next on their European programme on November 23 followed by a tricky final home match against Marseille on December 6.

The defeat puts Olympiakos bottom of the group with a trip to Marseille and a visit from Arsenal still to come.