DORTMUND (dpa-AFX) - Self-criticism after a rollercoaster of emotions: Nico Schlotterbeck experienced an intense starting eleven comeback for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga top match against Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old was directly involved in most of the decisive moments during Saturday evening's 2-3 (1-0) defeat. Regarding a particularly heated incident, the national defender was candid: After just over a quarter of an hour, Schlotterbeck could already have been sent off.

"I think you could definitely give a red card there. I was a bit lucky, yes," Schlotterbeck admitted to Sky about his tough foul on Josip Stanisic, for which he only received a yellow card. Schlotterbeck had caught Stanisic with his studs on the left leg and trapped the Croatian's ankle with both legs.

Even Ricken Considers Schlotterbeck's Foul Worthy of a Red Card

"The intensity here is really brutal," said Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken later on ZDF's "Sportstudio": "We were a bit lucky that it was only a yellow card." Four days earlier, Schlotterbeck had seen red as a substitute in Dortmund's Champions League exit at Atalanta Bergamo.

Schlotterbeck could have been sent off again on Saturday after the fierce incident. Just eight minutes after his challenge on Stanisic, Schlotterbeck put his team ahead with a header, celebrating so passionately that he jumped over the advertising boards to join the fans. He did not receive a second yellow card for this.

Schlotterbeck Escapes Sending Off Three Times

"We could start ruling everything out now," the defender later fumed. "If you rule everything out, then we don't have football anymore. But honestly, if I get a yellow card for that, then that's the end of it. Then one day I'll play chess. Because if I get a yellow for that, it's over."

Schlotterbeck was back in the spotlight in the second half, when in the 70th minute he again caught Stanisic—this time in the penalty area—conceding a penalty. Star striker Harry Kane converted to make it 2-1 for the record champions. Here too, Schlotterbeck could have received another yellow and thus a red card. "I think it was a very, very slight contact," he said. "And to get a yellow for that, I really don't know." Schlotterbeck had recently missed matches, first due to a yellow card suspension and then because of muscular problems./lap/DP/zb