Peter Stoger upbeat after Borussia Dortmund earn point at RB Leipzig

Posted Sunday, March 04, 2018 by PA

Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Stoger focused on the positives after his side came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at RB Leipzig.

The pressure was on both sides in the battle for Champions League qualification, with Schalke, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen all having claimed victories earlier on Saturday.

Dortmund, who had seen two goals ruled out for offside, found themselves behind when Jean-Kevin Augustin scored on 29 minutes.

Marco Reus, though, soon levelled when he rounded the goalkeeper.

Michy Batshuayi somehow missed an open goal just after the hour mark during what was a low-key second half as both teams had to settle for a draw.

Dortmund are third, now a point behind Schalke, while sixth-placed Leipzig lost further ground on the top four.

Stoger, though, was determined to look at the bigger picture following a second successive draw after failing to beat Augsburg at home on Monday.

“We did not lose for the 10th game,” the Dortmund coach said at a press conference.

“Our target is the Champions League and we are in good shape.

“It was always going to be difficult here and we could have done better in some situations.

“But what we set out to do was play well, and also be mindful of Leipzig who are very dangerous.

“I have watched a very good Bundesliga game and we must be reasonably satisfied to go home with a point.”

Leipzig were beaten at home by bottom club Cologne in their last match, which had been a third successive defeat in all competitions.

Coach Ralph Hasenhuttl was glad to have stopped the negative run.

“It would have been good to get three points against a direct rival (for the Champions League places), but at the end 1-1 is OK,” Hasenhuttl said at a press conference broadcast on the club’s official website.

“The first half was a high class match, then after it was not so good.

“All in all, it was a fair result. Both teams worked hard, but also didn’t make the correct decision in the final third often enough.”

Hasenhuttl is also refusing to rule out his side’s chances of breaking back into the top four.

“Until the end of the season, nothing will change,” he said.

“There are five or six teams who are playing for (qualification into) the Champions League.”