Borussia Dortmund have extended their unbeaten pre-season run to seven friendlies: BVB ran out 3-1 (1-1) winners against Dutch giants Ajax during the season opening event. Felix Nmecha bagged a brace and Julian Brandt scored, in what was the final rehearsal before the return to competitive action next week.

The 80,500 spectators at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK witnessed a BVB who posed a danger straight from the off. In the third minute, new signing Marcel Sabitzer embarked upon a run from deep and registered the first shot of the match, which was saved by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. This foray was followed by the first goal: Mats Hummels had the vision over on the left flank to play the ball into the middle towards Julian Brandt, who stuck his foot on the end of it to make it 1-0 (6). The celebrations that followed the opening goal had only just died down when Ajax levelled at 1-1 via a Brian Brobbey header only a minute later. But BVB continued to have the better chances thereafter – through Niklas Süle (10) and Marco Reus, whose shot was saved by Rulli at the near post (14). 

The game experienced a brief lull after the fast opening phase. Reus again failed to get the better of the goalkeeper in the 27th minute following an assist from Julian Ryerson. A shot from Steven Bergwijn took a dangerous deflection off Niklas Süle, but Alex Meyer in the Dortmund goal reacted superbly (29). Haller lent back as he shot (35) and Hummels missed from a header (40). BVB pressed high in the first period, set a high tempo and put together some lovely link-up play. One such move was rounded off with a shot from Reus from 18 metres, but Rulli turned the ball over the bar with his fingertips two minutes before the break and the whistle sounded with the score at 1-1.

BVB took control of the game once again after the break. Haller initially spurned an opportunity with a flick (47), before substitute Felix Nmecha showed his capabilities. He scored to make it 2-1 in the 54th minute following an assist from Haller and then rounded off another nice attacking move to make it 3-1 six minutes later. The Black & Yellows had their visitors under control, with Ajax only showing signs of life again after the hour mark when Mohammed Kudus fired wide of the far post (62). Shortly afterwards, Meyer twice turned behind for a corner (73, 76). The goalkeeper then made a strong save to deny Brobbey in a one-on-one in the 80th minute. At the other end, Jorrel Hato scraped the ball off the line five minutes later.

BVB will play their first competitive match of the season next week: the Black & Yellows will be away to TSV Schott Mainz in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday (12/08 at 15:30 CET).

BVB: Meyer – Ryerson (Wolf, 63), Süle, Hummels, Bensebaini (Bueno, 71) – Can – Malen (Hazard, 63), Sabitzer (Özcan, 71), Reus (Nmecha, 46), Brandt – Haller (Moukoko, 63) 

Goals: 1-0 Brandt (6), 1-1 Brobbey (7), 2-1 Nmecha (54), 3-1 Nmecha (60)
Christina Reinke