Borussia Dortmund have signed off their mid-season preparations by winning the third and final friendly match before their Bundesliga campaign resumes in Bremen on Saturday, emerging 6-1 (2-1) victors over SC Paderborn in an almost sold-out Benteler Arena.

Goals from Gonzalo Castro, Marco Reus, Mario Götze, Raphael Guerreiro and an André Schürrle brace from the penalty spot secured the victory for BVB, who have now won all three of their friendlies in 2017.

The personnel situation seems to have improved just in time for the second half of the season. Whereas BVB were missing ten players in their last friendly against Liège (a 3-0 win), the list of absentees was down to seven names before kick-off in Paderborn: Aubameyang (African Cup of Nations), Dembélé (hip problems), Sokratis (bruising), Sahin, Rode, Bürki und Subotic (all lacking match fitness) were all unavailable. Tuchel also left out Mor and Pulisic as he looks to manage the pair's return from injury.

Bender back – but not for long

Recent absentees Bender, Götze and Reus all made the starting XI in Paderborn but with only 11 minutes on the clock, an overly aggressive challenge by Michel on Sven Bender's ankle prematurely ended the evening for the Germany international, who hobbled off towards the changing rooms. BVB played with ten men for seven minutes before Bartra came on.

Offensive flair, defensive vulnerabilities

The first 45 minutes revealed several things. Firstly, the defence caused themselves unnecessary problems by making unforced errors. If Weidenfeller had not made spectacular saves from Michel (27) and Piossek (32), the third-tier outfit would have certainly scored more than the one that Bertels grabbed in the 28th minute when he intercepted Piszczek's header back to Weidenfeller and levelled the scores at 1-1.

At the other end of the pitch, BVB created seven outstanding chances in the first half. With just 27 seconds on the clock Götze narrowly missed the chance to open the scoring after a one-two with Schürrle, while former BVB 'keeper Kruse denied Schürrle in the second and 15th minutes. A Mario Götze on fine form not only set up those chances but also provided the assist for Castro to tap home the opener. Reus (24) and Bartra (31) came close to adding further goals for BVB, who lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, before they took a highly deserved 2-1 lead through Reus in the 37th minute following an excellent diagonal ball from Weigl and a precision cross from Schmelzer.

Schürrle hits home two second-half spot-kicks

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Sven Bender was forced off through injury.

The second period saw a much more consistent performance from BVB both in defence and attack, though Castro (48), Schürrle (50) and Reus (58) were all denied by custodian Kruse as they carved open the East Westphalians' rearguard. Götze, however, was soon rewarded for his fine performance when he put BVB 3-1 up as they countered in numbers (63). Five minutes later Schürrle scored from the spot after Merino was fouled, then Merino won the ball to set up the fifth: the Spaniard played it down the left flank to Schürrle, who threaded through for Guerreiro to slot home (81).

Four minutes later Merino was again fouled in the box – this time by Paderborn's substitute goalkeeper Brinkmann. Once again Schürrle put the ball on the spot, this time sending a well-placed and confident kick into the bottom left corner as BVB made it 6-1 with their 13th goal of the 2017 winter break.

BVB: Weidenfeller – Piszczek (Passlack, 64), Ginter (Burnic, 64), Bender (Bartra, 19), Schmelzer (Durm, 64) – Weigl (Park, 64) – Castro (Merino, 64), Kagawa (Guerreiro, 64) – Götze, Schürrle, Reus (Larsen, 64)
Goals: 0-1 Castro (22), 1-1 Bertels (28), 1-2 Reus (37), 1-3 Götze (63), 1-4 Schürrle (68, pen.), 1-5 Guerreiro (81), 1-6 Schürrle (84, pen.)
Attendance: 12,099
Boris Rupert