Borussia Dortmund 3-0 VfL Wolfsburg
With the news coming through that reigning champions Bayern Munich were behind and down to 10 men at Eintracht Frankfurt – their surprise conquerors in the 2018 German Cup Final – Borussia Dortmund knew this was an afternoon to take advantage in the Bundesliga.
True, their form had been shaky, but Dortmund are still second-favourites to win the title according to the Bundesliga 2019 betting odds and coach Lucien Favre would have realised this was a golden opportunity to make home advantage count.
After a dramatic midweek cup success against Borussia Monchengladbach, Favre elected to rest Jadon Sancho and Alex Witsel – both on the bench – as well as Thomas Delaney, Mario Gotze and Paco Alcacer.
Alcacer hadn’t featured in a month due to injury but, before that, had netted 11 in 12 appearances for club and country, including seven for Dortmund this season, so there was no lack of firepower on the bench.
Yet would the absence of those players from the starting XI be costly against a team with the best defensive record so far this term?
Or would Wolfsburg be cut open so ruthlessly as RB Leipzig managed against them in a demoralising cup defeat three days earlier?
Highlights of the game
Initially, it was the probing and link-up play between Dortmund captain Marco Reus and Julian Brandt which caught the eye. But that didn’t last too long as the skipper was unable to shake off a knock to his foot which he sustained early on and limped off before the half-hour mark.
By that time, Wolfsburg’s Wout Weghorst had released Lukas Nmecha – on a season-long loan from English champions Manchester City – whose dinking shot bounced off the crossbar with Marwin Hitz beaten.
The main Bundesliga 2019 news was actually being created by injuries at this point with Reus also joined on the sidelines by referee Tobias Weiz, who had to leave the fray to be replaced by the fourth official.
The loss of Reus certainly didn’t help home impetus. On the stroke of half-time, Wolfsburg went close again as John Brooks flicked on a corner to his defensive partner Jeffrey Bruma, who couldn’t quite steer the ball into the net.
It was clear defences were on top and the home side needed an early goal to settle any frustration.
It arrived seven minutes after the break when Thorgan Hazard – younger brother of Real Madrid man Eden –received a perfect pass from Achraf Hakimi. The Belgian cut onto his right foot and fired into the bottom left-hand corner to claim his first goal for his new club.
That lifted the whole mood inside Signal Iduna Park and, roared on by the home faithful, they quickly grabbed a second.
This time, it was an assist for Hazard – his sixth of the campaign – as he delivered the ball into the area to meet the overlapping run of Raphael Guerreiro who found the bottom corner in style.
As the news came through that Bayern were now 4-1 down in Frankfurt, Dortmund sensed the chance to leapfrog their rivals and move into the top two.
The quick sucker-punch would have hurt spirited Wolfsburg, and Mahmoud Dahoud almost made it three only for the heroics of Pavao Pervan in the visitors’ goal.
Witsel replaced Dahoud soon afterwards, and while Maximilian Arnold went close, Dortmund were in control. Hazard nearly had his second but dragged a shot wide with 10 minutes remaining.
An afternoon to remember for Dortmund was complete when moments after confirmation came through of a 5-1 defeat for Bayern, the home side grabbed a third when Bruma handled a Brandt cross and substitute Gotze converted the resulting spot-kick.
Game over – Dortmund are up to second.
Key statistics
Dortmund have scored in each of their last 30 Bundesliga home games – a club record – since a goalless draw against Wolfsburg in January last year.
They are now unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga matches against Wolfsburg (won eight, drawn one) since a 2-1 defeat at the Volkswagen Arena in May 2015.
Guerreiro now has two goals this season, already matching his total for the entirety of the last campaign.
This was Wolfsburg’s first defeat of the season, falling one short of equalling the club record for consecutive matches unbeaten previously set in 2008/09 and 2014/15 when they finished as champions and runners-up respectively.
What’s next?
This was the start of a massive week for Dortmund. They host Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, bidding to avenge a 2-0 defeat in the San Siro last week.
And then, it’s time for match SBOBET Bundesliga always have marked on their calendars: Der Klassiker, the big German clash with champions Bayern Munich.
Wolfsburg meet Gent in the Europa League on Thursday (November 7) and then host Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga next Sunday.
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