Big points in the Champions League: Borussia Dortmund have the knockout phase of the Champions League in their own hands after beating Newcastle United 2:0.

Borussia Dortmund had a key match on their hands on match day 4 of the UEFA Champions League. At home, they had to put themselves in a good starting position for the last two games against Newcastle United, who are level on points. Following Dortmund’s 1-0 win in Newcastle last time out, both teams went into the game level on four points.

Edin Terzic made three changes to his starting XI after the emphatic 4-0 defeat to FC Bayern, bringing on Niklas Süle, Felix Nmecha and Karim Adeyemi for Marius Wolf, Marco Reus and Donyell Malen – and BVB showed a different face from the outset.

BVB get off to a good start

In a dominant opening phase, it was Julian Brandt who tested Nick Pope for the first time from the edge of the box (13′), before Adeyemi also forced the keeper into a save a little later (16′). However, Niclas Füllkrug then gave his side a deserved lead when he helped to initiate an attack and was on hand to slot in Marcel Sabitzer’s cross from the edge of the area (26).

The Magpies then got into the game better, but without becoming really compelling. At the other end, Marcel Sabitzer had the chance to add to his tally but put his shot from 16 meters over the bar (36′). So it remained 1:0 at the break

After the break, things got off to a turbulent start. Both Dortmund, through Adeyemi (46) and Brandt (50), and Newcastle, through Tino Livramento (48) and Miguel Almiron (49), found the net. The English side initially exerted the greater pressure, missing the equalizer through Joelinton by inches (56′).

However, Dortmund managed to put an end to the pressure phase and relieve the pressure again. Brandt forced Pope into another save (58′), after which there was little danger for a long time.

Brandt puts the lid on it

Until the 79th minute, when Newcastle’s own free-kick flew into the BVB penalty area. A long ball from Adeyemi to Brandt was enough to create a two-on-one situation. Livramento closed down the path to the cross, but Brandt kept the ball and slotted home himself to make it 2:0.

The visitors failed to put up much of a fight and the result was ultimately a deserved 2:0, which meant more to the Black & Yellows than just a reaction to the 4:0 defeat against Bayern.

The home win means BVB are now level on points with Newcastle, taking their points tally to seven and keeping them safely in the top two ahead of their final two group games against AC Milan (November 28) and Paris Saint-Germain (December 13). PSG could still challenge Dortmund for top spot in Group F with a draw or win in Milan this evening (9pm), but in that case their lead over third place would remain at three points. If AC Milan win, Dortmund will remain first, but only with two points on third place