Post Match Reaction: Underwhelming Again

TL;DR

Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim, marking their second consecutive league defeat. Two penalties awarded for handball incidents contributed to their loss, raising concerns about their performance as they fight for a Champions League spot.

Key points

Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim
Two penalties were awarded for handball incidents
This marks Dortmund's second consecutive league defeat
Dortmund's performance included only three shots on target
Champions League qualification is at risk with four matches remaining

Borussia DortmundTSG HoffenheimStuttgart

Sinsheim, Germany - April 18: Julian Ryerson of Borussia Dortmund gestures during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund at PreZero Arena on April 18, 2026 in Sinsheim, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images BVB have lost two league matches in a row for the first time this season, dropping all three points to Hoffenheim. The Sinsheim club were awarded two important penalties from handball incidents that ultimately allowed them to triumph 2-1 over BVB. You can’t talk about this match without addressing the handballs. The handball rules in today’s game are well defined, if not always agreeable. In the first incident, Niklas Süle went down injured in the box and as he fell, his hand was struck in an unnatural position. My perspective is that he was shielding his face by reflex, and it feels rather harsh that his last action in the game—an injury—should be further punished. But the ball hit his hand, and the room for interpretation is minimal. You can complain about the rule, but not its application. Not in this case, anyway. The second handball offense was committed by Julian Ryerson, who also had his hand in an unnatural position. I have more of a complaint here because it wasn’t entirely clear that the ball did touch Ryerson’s hand. At least not from my perspective. If you saw it better and want to correct me in the comments, please do so, but since the second call was not made by the referee on the field, it meant VAR was directly intervening. Had the referee called it on the field, and VAR had said “there is not enough evidence to overturn it” I might be more amendable to accept the decision. All that said, the game is lost. BVB can blame themselves for the penalty, but they can also blame themselves for putting three shots on target in 100 minutes of football. An xG of .70 does not suggest a match that was undeservedly lost. BVB can still make a real mess of this season. Current indications are that Germany may receive a fifth Champions League spot, but that is not confirmed. With four matches left to play, and (in fourth) sitting only eight points behind, disaster has not been averted. While I do not believe BVB will go winless in six, I would like to see the play on the pitch indicate that the team doesn’t believe that either.

Q&A

What were the key reasons for Borussia Dortmund's loss against Hoffenheim?

Borussia Dortmund lost due to two penalties awarded for handball incidents, along with a lack of offensive effectiveness, managing only three shots on target.

How does Borussia Dortmund's recent performance affect their Champions League qualification?

With four matches left and Stuttgart only eight points behind, Dortmund's recent losses put their Champions League qualification at risk.

What incidents led to the penalties awarded against Borussia Dortmund in the match?

The penalties were awarded for handball incidents involving Niklas Süle and Julian Ryerson, with the latter's call being influenced by VAR intervention.