Borussia Dortmund had recorded at least 63 percent possession in each of their first four matches, but tonight at the Volksparkstadion it was 53 percent. It was their ability to cut through their opponent's defence that made the difference, with BVB creating almost four times as many chances as Hamburg (11-3) and having almost three times as many shots (16-6). 

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Shinjia Kagawa

Double landmark: BVB recorded their 750th victory and scored their 3,000th goal in the Bundesliga. Only Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen have a higher total in both categories.

Another clean sheet: For the first time in their long history, BVB have kicked off a league campaign with five successive clean sheets; even at a later point in the season, they have never recorded a longer run without conceding.

League leaders: Borussia Dortmund have topped the table after each of the five rounds of matches this season. It is a feat the club has never managed before.

Preferred opponents 1: There is no team Borussia Dortmund have beaten more often away from home than Hamburg (13 wins). Furthermore, it was their fourth victory in a row against HSV. There has never been a longer winning run against the Red Shorts.

Preferred opponents 2: Shinji Kagawa has scored his last two Bundesliga goals against HSV. He scored his only goal of the 2016/17 season in the 3-0 victory over the Northerners in April. Today's opener was Kagawa's 37th Bundesliga goal. No Japanese player has scored more often!

Preferred opponents 2: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang now has nine goals from his nine games against HSV. There's no other team he's been more prolific against. He has six goals from his last three games against them.

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Greater goal threat: Christian Pulisic managed three goals in 29 appearances in 2016/17, but he now has two in five this season. The American scored his first-ever goal against Hamburg one and a half years ago (17/04/16).

Outstanding start: In addition to scoring against Tottenham, Andrey Yarmolenko has set up three goals in three Bundesliga appearances this season.

International line-up: BVB's starting XI in Hamburg contained ten overseas players; the only German was Gonzalo Castro, who himself has Spanish roots! There have only been two previous occasions in Bundesliga history that Borussia Dortmund have fielded so many foreigners. For both matches, there was another Dutch coach in the dugout (the first two matches of the 2004/05 season under Bert van Marwijk).

Midweek success: Since 2010/11, BVB have only lost one of their 14 midweek Bundesliga matches (six wins, seven draws) and they have won their last two midweek matches – both against Hamburg. The other was a 3-0 win in April 2017. (br)

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