Defending champions RB Leipzig underlined their ambitions in dominant fashion in the DFB Cup and destroyed Borussia Dortmund’s hopes of winning the coveted trophy.

The Dortmund professionals were not only recognisable by their yellow jerseys at around 10.15pm on Wednesday evening. They resembled each other in their posture, during this brief interruption of the game, when Dani Olmo left the pitch at the former Leipzig Zentralstadion to the applause of the 47,069 spectators. The BVB players had their hands on their hips, their looks looked perplexed. Belief in the turnaround? Not a thing.

And so it was a miserable elimination from the DFB Cup, this 0:2 (0:1) at RB Leipzig, for which international Timo Werner was responsible in the 22nd minute. While the Saxons celebrated a fully deserved place in the semi-finals, Borussia Dortmund must reverse the trend as quickly as possible – and thoroughly question itself.

It was the second painful setback for the runners-up within a few days; it was the second time after the 2:4 at Bayern Munich, which resulted in the loss of the Bundesliga lead, that BVB disappointed all along the line. On Saturday (15.30/Sky), Union Berlin travels from the capital to the west. It is high time for BVB to show its other face again in the fight for the Champions League places.

Coach Edin Terzic had changed his team in three positions after the defeat in Munich. Centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck (muscle fibre tear with tendon involvement) and centre-forward Sebastien Haller (knock to the knee) remained in Dortmund and were replaced by Mats Hummels and Donyell Malen.

The third change, however, came as a surprise: perennial star Jude Bellingham, who has only played for the full time in just two competitive games this season, was initially on the bench. “He wouldn’t have thought he could play another 90 or 120 minutes,” Terzic told ZDF before kick-off. In Bellingham’s place, Salih Özcan was supposed to provide structure in midfield – which neither the Turkish international nor the other Dortmund players managed to do.

BVB played a miserable first half, lacked spirit and inspiration, did not get into the duels and only ran after the lively Leipzigers. In figures: 14:1 shots on goal for the hosts, only 36 percent of duels won for the black-yellow team. It was only thanks to Gregor Kobel that the evening in Saxony did not turn into a debacle early on. The Swiss player was quick as a flash to extend his arm when Konrad Laimer shot (3rd), and Kobel, who had made a bad mistake in Munich on Saturday, saved with his foot against Dani Olmo. One attack after the other rolled towards the BVB goal.

But BVB had Kobel. Again and again. Only in the 22nd minute did the 25-year-old have no chance to defend – but half the Dortmund team would have had the chance to prevent Timo Werner from taking the Leipzig lead. Two double passes were enough for Mohamed Simakan and Dominik Szoboszlai to combine through the right side of the attack. Julian Brandt and Emre Can kept a safe distance, Hummels was not quick enough to follow – and Werner only had to push in after Simakan’s cross.

Terzic made a change after the break. He brought on a second striker in Youssoufa Moukoko after the restart. Marius Wolf stayed in the dressing room and the inconspicuous Raphael Guerreiro moved from central midfield to the left side of defence. It did not help much. BVB had no ideas to get dangerously in front of the goal of the completely unemployed Janis Blaswich. Even Bellingham, who was substituted for Brandt after 63 minutes, did not turn the game around. Instead, Kobel had to intervene once more against Laimer (78th).

Willi Orban then ensured the final decision, scoring the 2:0 in the 97th minute.