LEGENDS MATCH! Borussia Dortmund vs Benfica
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Transcript
[music] >> Good evening and a very very warm welcome to everyone joining us from around the world on this very very special day, a very special occasion for Dortmund fans and an extremely special occasion for this historic venue to celebrate 100 years of the Rote Erde Stadium. And to pay tribute to the 1963 European Cup tie between Borussia Dortmund and Benfica Lisbon, the second leg of which was one of the most famous games in Dortmund's history at the Rote Erde Stadium. So, it's a repeat of the game of the century and a fantastic evening of legends football to look forward to right next to and in the shadow of the world-famous Signal Iduna Park. Well, before there was a Signal Iduna Park, before there was a Westfalen Stadium, there was the Rote Erde Stadium. Which has so much history not just with football, but with uh a plethora of sports and has seen upsets, celebrations, everything in between. It means a lot to the people here in Dortmund. It means a lot to those in Germany. And is the perfect venue for what should be a fantastic game between to the legends of two of Europe's biggest in the business. Borussia Dortmund up against Benfica Lisbon. It was the 4th of December back in 1963, the second leg of the European Cup round of 16 against Benfica, who at the time were two-time European champions and considered one of the best, if not the best, team in Europe. Dortmund trailing by a goal, Benfica winning the first leg 2-1 at home. So, work to do for BVB in that second leg. And the black and yellows who on the day were wearing golden shirts for the game went on to win 5-0, one of the most famous wins in Dortmund history and one of the most remembered wins when it comes to action here at the Rote Erde Stadium. Well, plenty of legends in attendance here today both for BVB and for Benfica. Some of the biggest names in the clubs' histories out on the pitch here today ready to put on a show for the fans here in this iconic stadium. A stadium not just the home of football, but has had plenty of other sports take center stage here in the Rote Erde Stadium. Likes of field handball world championships were played here back in the day. Cycling, which for a time was even more popular than football back in the days. The stadium also the the place where the the famous race Rund um die Rote Erde took place on the race track surrounding the pitch. And also has a rich history when it comes to athletics. Was the home and training ground of two-time Olympic champion Annegret Richter. Not only went on to win medals at the Olympics, but plenty of domestic honors secured here as well. The Rote Erde Stadium also the place where BVB celebrated their biggest ever derby win over Schalke back in 1966, a 7-0 victory. And played here all the way until 1974 when they moved to the Westfalen Stadium. It is a a pitch and stadium still used by Borussia Dortmund. Their under-23s play here. Their women's team also plays here. And have done so for the past 5 years, playing their first game 5 years ago against 1860 Munich. Have had crowds of 10,000 plus for derbies against Schalke, 15,000 plus in a cup game against Bayern Munich's women's team. Have enjoyed four promotions in recent times, now just two away from making it to the Bundesliga. One would think those crowds will only get bigger get bigger and increase with Germany legend Alexandra Popp set to join BVB's women's side in the summer. But now time to get down to this legends spectacle here as the players make their way out on the pitch. BVB led out by goalkeeping legend Roman Weidenfeller. The 45-year-old with a rich history at the club. Total of 16 years in black and yellow between 2002 and 2018. A whole bunch of other legends in attendance here as well. Likes of Kevin Großkreutz, Dedé, Socrates. No Mats Hummels today, sadly. Former BVB defender falling ill just before the game, so unable to take part today. Which will upset a few fans, I'm sure. Plenty of other big names to look forward to here, the likes of the big Czech number nine, Jan Koller. Not to mention Mohamed Zidan, Nelson Valdez, Antônio da Silva, Marcel Schmelzer. The list just keeps on going and going. There we see Socrates as well. With that famous number 25 on the back of his shirts. BVB all in black here for this legends game, but Benfica bringing some big names to the party themselves. Some which I'm sure a few of you will still know, the likes of Javier Saviola, the Argentinian striker, Konstantinos Mitroglou, the Greek forward. Not to mention Nicolás Gaitán and others, Ljubomir Fejsa. Players coming together to take a picture here before we get down to the action here in Dortmund. >> [music] >> Now the BVB legends coming into this game in good form. Have been busy in 2026 already, the Legends Cup in Munich at the start of the year in January, going extremely well at the SAP Garden in front of 10,000 fans. Dortmund taking care of Celtic Glasgow and Real Madrid the group stage, then beating Juventus 5-2 in the semi-finals before a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid securing the 2026 Bayern Legends Cup. And for those of you excited about this encounter, there's more to come in just a few days' time. Dortmund legends traveling to England to take on Steven Gerrard and company up against the Liverpool legends. And uh some big names in that game as well. Definitely a great way to enjoy the international break. Quite incredible to think stadium opened all the way back in 1926 in the heart of Dortmund, still in use today 100 years later. Bratwurst, beer, and Borussia. So the action underway here in this stadium designed originally by Hans Strobel back in 1924, construction starting in 1925. And interestingly enough, had two opening ceremonies, once on the 6th of June in 1926, which was for the so-called bourgeoisie, parts of branch of government and society, and then on the 13th of June for the communist and workers party or branch of government and society. Neither wanted too much to do with the other at the time, therefore two opening ceremonies. The name Rote Erde Stadium directly translated into English actually means red earth stadium, but the Rote, word for red when translated, doesn't actually come from the color. It has a more to do with the area and how it came to be a long, long time before the stadium was even considered. >> [cheering] >> The land here covered by forest, locals in the area discovered a type of rock uh in the ground within that forest that could be heated up and then held that heat extremely well, was then used to heat homes in the area. And then the entire forest and the earth was cleared. The word for that in German is gerodet, and that's where the Rote comes from. It's actually the cleared earth stadium if you want to really hone in on the original use of the word. Stadium was then renovated in 1953, the introduction of European football here, a game against Manchester United, which uh first introduced evening games as well. It's when the floodlights were introduced for the very first time. 1963, the Bundesliga came about. Dortmund played their first home game here against 1860 Munich. Easy catch there for Weidenfeller. Just over 3 minutes gone. Benfica starting well here. >> [cheering] >> Ball forward from Patrick Owomoyela, 46-year-old. 5 years with BVB. Real fan favorite during his time here. Fantastic tackle there from the Brazilian Dede. 47 years of age, still more than happy to get stuck in. Never ceases to amaze at these legend games that you can't take the uh professional out of the game, but you can't take the game out of the ex-professional. Still extremely competitive, still that desire and hunger to win. Lovely ball out wide with the outside of the right boots. Cross whipped in by Argentinian Nicolas Gaitán. Spent six seasons with Benfica. Nico Gaitán with the corner here from this near side. In towards the near post. The header just wide in the end though by Carlitos. 43-year-old striker does well to get ahead of the defender, but can't guide it on target. Jorg Heinrich, player-coach here with the legends team. One of the older players within this squad. First real drive forward from Borussia Dortmund. Cross comes in, not really dealt with by Benfica. Another delivery into the box. >> [applause] >> Mladen Petric, the number 10 closest to it. The ball in from Lee Young-pyo, the South Korean 48-year-old. Played for Dortmund from 2008 to 2009. And what a legend on screen there, Paul Lambert. Also didn't have the longest time at Borussia Dortmund, but time he did have was remembered fondly by Dortmund fans. Slightly misplaced pass there. Picked off easily by Sven Bender. >> [cheering] >> Fantastic turnout here as well at the Rote Erde Stadion. >> [cheering] >> Long-range efforts into the stands there. >> [cheering] >> Roman Weidenfeller sends the ball upfield. What a goalkeeper he was for Borussia Dortmund. Joined from Kaiserslautern all the way back in 2002. And retired with BVB. World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, two-time German champion with Borussia Dortmund in 2010 and 11, as well as the 2011 and 12 season. Two-time cup winner as well. Two-time Supercup winner with Dortmund. He's considered by many Dortmund fans as >> [cheering] >> one of, if not the best goalkeeper to ever don the shirts. >> [cheering] >> Ball out wide to Gaitán. Cross is swung into the box. Unable to find intended targets. >> [applause] >> Here's Saviola. Owomoyela looking for options. Good contest between these two so far. Lambert Owomoyela Dortmund knocking the ball around nicely here. Owomoyela under pressure. Ball stays with Dortmund. Lambert with the outside of the right boot shows that he's still got it. As mentioned before kickoff, the Rote Erde Stadion wasn't always the home of football. At one point and over 52,000 people here not to watch football, but uh to enjoy boxing, believe it or not. It was a new record attendance at the time. European champion Heinz Neuhaus taking on German champion Hein ten Hoff back in 1952. One of six big boxing matches that took place here. Gaitán has seen a lot of the ball. Little through ball chance here for Benfica to take the lead. It's a cheeky little dink. But a fantastic clearance there from Jorg Heinrich, the 56-year-old getting back to clear the ball off the line. It's won back really well. And then Nélson Tomás with the little chip to put it over Weidenfeller, but Jorg Heinrich still with plenty left in the tank, it would seem. Does well to keep it at nil-nil. Gaitán And another Benfica corner. You have to say the visitors from Portugal probably with the better start here. Would have been a fantastic goal from Nélson Tomás there. Jorg Heinrich wide awake. That's a bit of a sloppy pass from that corner to break here. Urged forward by the fans here in the old stadium. Heinrich unable to find Großkreutz out wide. Kevin Großkreutz, one of the only players still playing. That's not at the top level. Currently with TSV Aindling. It's whipped in by Leitner. Großkreutz didn't have height on that one. It was played in just slightly behind. His teammate in the box as well. Just over 14 minutes gone. Still 0-0 here. Dortmund yet to create any clear-cut chances going more dangerous in the final third so far. Still early doors here. Eliseu Luton >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Sokratis still moves extremely well. At 37, one of the younger players in this BVB legends team. Coragones plays it back. Nico Gaitán Slightly heavy first touch there from Carlitos Garcia. Lovely switch of play out wide. Pulled down by Kevin Großkreutz. Floated forward by Heinrich. >> [cheering] >> Out wide from Sven Bender. Early ball into the box. Now Mladen Petric doing his best to get on the end of it. It's Artur, the Brazilian 45-year-old in between the sticks for Benfica. Gets off his line just quickly enough. Now the original stadium back in 1926. Built with sandstone from the Ruhr area here. And somewhat of a a myth that goes along with it. Said to every 8 to 10 years changes its character and appearance. Schalke makes some believe that the sandstone here is almost alive if you like. And it does change its appearance. Be that color or whatever else. It's to bring back the the beauty and uh help those who visit the stadium realize its beauty once more. At least that's the way the saying goes in this area. It's a stadium that has seen a lot of change, a lot of renovations, of course. It's hit 96 times during bombings in the Second World War. Still standing here today. Thankfully so cuz it means we can watch these two legends teams go head-to-head. Floated in. Not enough on that header from Sven Bender. Just getting underneath it rather than attacking it, but put under pressure well. Headed away by Awoniyi. Lambert Petric just can't get there again. >> [applause] >> And he's complaining to the referee that it was a back pass to the keeper. I think he's got every right to complain there as well. Artur not bothered whatsoever. Smothers the ball. And play continues. This is of course a friendly, remember. Put out of play by Sokratis. Huge fan favorite at Borussia Dortmund. Joined from Werder Bremen back in 2013. Spent five years at Dortmund before making the move to Arsenal in the Premier League. Returning to Greece with Olympiacos. Finished his career in Spain though with Real Betis. Played for some big clubs, likes of AC Milan as well. On his CV. No-nonsense defender, Sokratis. You always knew you were going to get at least 100% from him, sometimes even more. Passion for the club, desire to win in each and every contest was made him a real fan favorite. And he said, "Here's the ball back." Thomas Great sliding tackle there. And Sokratis How many times have we seen him do that in a Dortmund shirt over the years? He just gets enough on it. Full stretch. Another corner to Benfica. Really inviting cross there, well defended by Dortmund. All the way back to Artur. No limits on substitutions here this evening. So, I expect plenty of changes throughout the game. Benfica on the move here. Gaitán powering forward down the middle. Spreads it out wide and then the cross in towards Thomas. An absolutely sublime one. A diving header. Not sure if he gets any contact on the ball there. I do think it just glances off the top of his head. Yeah. He just can't guide it towards goal, though. I think Weidenfeller would have been in trouble. Best chance of the game so far. Lee back to Lambert. Looking for options. Lovely close control from the Scottish midfielder. And there's Leitner. Lee with the cross. Mladen Petric with the header. He really bulldozes his way in front of the defender there. He does really well to make contact with the ball, but it was always going to be difficult to get the placement right off balance. Saviola coming back from an offside position. >> [cheering] >> The whistle goes. Dedé not impressed. And the Dortmund players not happy with the decision here. Let's get a closer look at this. I think it does come off the left arm of Dedé again. But, he did have his hands down by his side, which I think is what he's trying to explain to the referee. Definitely wasn't an unnatural position, if you like. And I think he can complain all he wants, it's not going to change things here. So, Benfica with a penalty in the 27th minute of the first half and a chance to break the deadlock. Roman Weidenfeller in between the sticks. Giorgos Karagounis can't find a way past BVB shot-stopper. >> [applause] >> He's still got it. What a stop from Weidenfeller there. >> [cheering] >> Justice served, perhaps. Well, I'll let you guys decide that. I think Dedé definitely didn't feel that way. It's just spiced things up a little, though. Tempo of the game is on the up, especially from Benfica. Heinrich not giving up on it just yet. Does well to run the ball away from danger, but then hands it back to the Portuguese side. Have looked the more dangerous in this first period of play. Pass picked off by Petric. Can't find a way past Jardel Vieira. Brazilian defender. And Gaitán has seen a lot of the ball in this first half. Benfica number 10. Saviola with the lay-off. Giorgos Karagounis captain of Greece, who famously won the European Championships against all odds. A legend not just of Benfica and his homeland of Greece, especially. >> [cheering] >> Stop from the penalty spot by Weidenfeller, though. Großkreutz powering forward down the left wing for BVB. Under pressure, manages to hold on to the ball. Spreads it out wide to Lee. Lee whips one in! And it's put just wide by Sven Bender, I believe, at the back post. Fantastic ball there from Lee Young-pyo. South Korean puts his head up, has a look, sees Bender making the run. Perhaps just a little too much power behind that ball. Does make it a little more difficult for Bender. >> [cheering] >> There is the big man, Jan Koller. Seen plenty inside the stadium. They'll be eager to see him out on the pitch again. Absolute colossus up front. What a player for Borussia Dortmund. 61 Bundesliga goals in his career. You don't get much more legendary than Jan Koller. Carlitos Garcia comes down from a challenge just after putting the ball into the box. Again, it's Dedé who's involved. Carlitos is staying down here. He does get caught right on the ankle there from the Brazilian. Not sure if that was just inside the box, as well. I think it was, you know, on the line. So, Benfica awarded a penalty that probably wasn't one. Not awarded one that was uh quite clearly one, I think. And Nico Gaitán finds in the crowd, as well. Quite a good amount of Benfica fans have made the journey. Just great to see. There's Lee. Caught by Illishau. >> [cheering] >> Lamberts and Ballack on the side. Finds his way through to Lee. Shifted onto his left. Another good looking delivery. Petric. Will lay it up to Leitner. Just over his shoulder but he couldn't quite get enough mustard on it. Leitner picking up the pieces with Sven Bender intercepting the pass. And Dortmund will have a corner. Leitner to take it. No, Jan Koller to Ewerthon. Not the moment. Weidenfeller came out looking to punch the ball away. And Lee sends it back in. And Weidenfeller struggling to get the ball away. Leitner will keep it in play. Comes another cross in towards the near post. That was Koller's choice. He could have done better there. Comes up for the delivery. I think his header comes off of Sven Bender who is and already in an offside position. Norbert Dickel there. One of the coaches of the legends team. Former Dortmund player. Dortmund legend. Both on and off the pitch. He's known as the stadium announcer these days and the referee brings a close to the first 35 minutes here in the Westfalenstadion. Nothing to separate the two sides. Mostly thanks to that man, Roman Weidenfeller. Saving the Karagounis penalty to keep things at nil-nil. Dortmund improving towards the end of that first half. But still trying to create clear-cut chances. Nothing to write home about just yet. But a very entertaining first half here between these two legends sides. And plenty still to look forward to in the second half. And plenty of changes will be made. And we might get our opening goal as well. Grab yourself a snack, a drink, and make sure you get back in time for that second half in just a few. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [bell] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> So, a very very warm welcome back to everyone joining us here as we continue to celebrate 100 years of the Westfalenstadion here in Dortmund. The bad ne