Borussia Dortmund are facing a fight to stay in Europe after Christmas, let alone the Champions League, after being held to a shock draw at home to APOEL Nicosia.
Dortmund looked like they were sailing to an easy three points when Raphael Guerreiro scored the opener, but Mickael Pote equalised with the visitors’ only shot on target.
The result leaves Dortmund with only two points from four games – the same as APOEL – and heaps pressure on manager Peter Bosz.
Raphael Guerreiro lifted ball into net just before the half hour to give Dortmund the lead
APOEL set up ultra defensively with a flat back five, but were breached by a classy team move
Mickael Pote equalised seven minutes after half time in Germany with a great turn and finish
GAME FACTS AND MATCH ZONE
Dortmund (4-3-3): Burki; Bartra, Omer Toprak (Schurrle 87), Papastathopoulos, Guerreiro (Schmelzer 72); Gotze, Weigl, Kagawa; Pulisic, Aubameyang, Philipp (Yarmolenko 65)
Unused subs: Weidenfeller, Castro, Sahin, Isak
Goal: Guerreiro 29
APOEL (5-3-2): Perez; Vouros, Rueda, Merkis, Carlao, Alexandrou (Sallai 46); Vinicius, Morais, Zahid; Pote (de Camargo 74), Aloneftis (82)
Unused subs: Gudino, Efrem, Antoniou, Makris
Goal: Pote 52
Bookings: Carlao 72, Vouros 90, Perez 90+4
Following an extensive team move involving 20 passes, Dortmund took the lead through Raphael Guerreiro. For more stats and facts, check out our exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.
Dortmund had all the possession throughout the first 45 minutes, and almost took the lead early doors when centre back Omer Toprak had a header cleared off the line.
APOEL were set up ultra defensively with a flat back five, but they were soon breached by a classy team move.
A 20-pass sequence culminated in a cheeky flick through to left back Guerreiro, who charged into the area and lifted the ball into the net just before the half hour to give Dortmund the lead they deserved.
The pressure was relentless all first half, although Dortmund lacked a ruthless cutting edge, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng was set through one-on-one in the clearest chance, but he went wide then mis-hit his chip which failed to threaten the goal.
Both sides came into game with only a single point from previous matchday draw in Cyprus
Pote and Nektarios Alexandrou celebrate the equaliser, which came against the run of play
Dortmund manager Peter Bosz is under pressure with his team seriously out of form
Both sides came into the game with only a single point in three games in Group H, which came from the 1-1 draw in Cyprus two weeks ago.
It therefore looks likely that this game was being played for third place only, and a consolation spot in the Europa League, as Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid lead the way.
Dortmund manager Peter Bosz is under pressure, with his team out of form in the league and facing a near-fruitless fight to reach the Champions League knockout stages.
Dortmund almost took the lead earlier when Omer Toprak had a header cleared off the line
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng was set through one-on-one but went wide then mishit his chip
Shinji Kagawa controls the ball as Dortmund dominated in terms of chances and possession
That pressure will only have increased as APOEL, with their first real opportunity of the night on 52 minutes, pulled themselves level.
The Cypriots charged down the left, the ball was played into Pote – who also scored against Dortmund a fortnight ago – around 10 yards out, and he impressively turned and finished beyond Roman Burki.
Dortmund attempted desperately to respond, Shinji Kagawa shooting wide after a surging run while Aubameyang hit the crossbar and somehow missed a close range header in stoppage time, as the hosts dominated in terms of chances and possession.
However they could not find the winner, which leaves Dortmund struggling to stay in Europe and major questions for Bosz to answer.