Guirassy? Bensebaini? Dortmund's first penalty taker is actually someone else
In the 4-4 draw in Turin, Serhou Guirassy failed to score. The Dortmund striker would have loved to convert the penalty to make it 4-2, but the internal hierarchy designated Ramy Bensebaini as the taker. The Algerian is actually only second in the BVB standings.
Who's going to score? Before BVB's 4-2 goal, Guirassy and Bensebaini disagreed, and Sabitzer had to mediate. IMAGO/DeFodi Images
After the shot, Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy beamed with unity. After the two Dortmund players argued for minutes over the execution of the handball penalty, which was still being reviewed by VAR in the background, Bensebaini prevailed and converted confidently. He then immediately turned around, pointed at the striker, and hugged him with a smile.
But why all the stress beforehand, which could certainly cause unrest during the execution, when, according to Niko Kovac, it was actually "clearly defined" that Bensebaini should shoot ? While Kovac expressed understanding for Guirassy's desire to get his name on the scoresheet at the start of the Champions League after the 4-4 draw at Juventus , the clear vote against last season's top scorer in the Champions League and in favor of the defender is no coincidence.
Guirassy has already missed three times from the penalty spotAfter all, it wasn't the first time that the ever-goal-hungry Guirassy had attempted to further expand his already impressive goal-scoring tally from eleven meters. In 55 competitive matches for Dortmund, the 29-year-old scored an impressive 43 times – nine of which the Guinean international scored from the penalty spot. The catch: There could have been a few more goals had Guirassy been a surefire penalty taker.
Guirassy's stats also include three missed penalty shots, which cost BVB victories in two cases: In addition to a missed penalty in the 3-2 win at Hoffenheim last April, the striker missed a great chance from a penalty in the 0-0 draw against Sporting in last season's Champions League playoffs and more recently in the 3-3 draw against FC St. Pauli . This is another reason why he's ranked lower in the Bundesliga rankings.
Bensebaini boasts an impeccable penalty record. For Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Algerian national team, and now, for the first time, for Dortmund, the 30-year-old has stepped up to the penalty spot eleven times, finding the net eleven times. He demonstrated his ability to withstand this challenge even under enormous pressure, for example, while playing for the Foals, scoring a penalty in injury time in the 2-1 winner against FC Bayern in December 2019.
Can last missed in 2012/13Bensebaini nevertheless credits a "lucky twist" for being able to take the shot on Tuesday evening. Penalties are actually a top priority for Dortmund – and for good reason for many years. Emre Can , the BVB captain, has scored even more penalties than Bensebaini. The 31-year-old has taken the penalty 13 times for Borussia, scoring 13 times. Can last missed a penalty in a competitive match was in the 2012/13 season – for FC Bayern's reserve team in the Regionalliga Bayern.
Can is currently suffering from adductor problems, and his return is not yet in sight. He has a worthy replacement in Bensebaini. Despite all his qualities, Guirassy still has to earn his way back into the top flight. And he'll probably only be able to do so when Bensebaini isn't on the pitch.
