Borussia Dortmund ended their UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign with a comfortable 5-0 (2-0) victory against Besiktas. Marco Reus and Erling Haaland both bagged braces for BVB, after Donyell Malen had opening the scoring.

Timo Lammert reporting

A quick attacking move involving Witsel, Schulz and Bellingham was finished off by Malen in the 29th minute, as a BVB side dominant in every area took a highly deserved lead. Reus doubled the advantage shortly before the break after a penalty was awarded for a foul by Welinton, who was subsequently sent off (45+2). The maximum capacity crowd of 15,000 saw the captain increase the lead to 3-0 with a wonderfully taken goal on 53 minutes, before substitute Haaland, who came off the bench on the hour mark, added two further goals (68, 81) to round off the 5-0 victory.

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The scenario:  
Third versus fourth. The final group placements of both teams had been determined prior to kick-off on Matchday 6. BVB had won the reverse fixture 2-1.

Personnel matters: 
As well as Gio Reyna, Thorgan Hazard and Youssoufa Moukoko, BVB were without Manuel Akanji (minor knee surgery), Julian Brandt (concussion), Emre Can (suspended) and Marwin Hitz (Achilles tendon problems). There were five changes to the starting XI for this game, which came three days after the clash with Bayern Munich and four days before the trip to VfL Bochum: Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nico Schulz, Axel Witsel, Marius Wolf and Donyell Malen replaced Akanji, Raphael Guerreiro, Can, Brandt and Haaland.

Tactics:  
Borussia lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Witsel positioned centrally in front of the defence. Besiktas played in a 4-2-3-1 system.

The match & analysis:
The game was barely 30 seconds old when Mahmoud Dahoud had a go from distance for the first time following a throw-in. His effort was turned behind for a corner that was met by the head of Mats Hummels, though it did not pose a threat. The Black & Yellows pressed from the front from the off and set up camp deep in the opposition half in the opening minutes. Despite a number of personnel changes, Borussia oozed enthusiasm – without creating major goalscoring opportunities. Their second sight of goal came when Marco Reus shot from distance on the quarter-hour mark.

Only a few moments later, BVB created their first opportunity from open play. Nico Schulz fizzed the ball across to Jude Bellingham, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area lacked precision and flew over the crossbar. The Black & Yellows were lacking accuracy in the final third, but Marco Rose's charges could also sense that their opponents struggled whenever they upped the tempo. With that in mind, it was no coincidence that Borussia Dortmund opened the scoring through Donyell Malen following a well-executed counter involving Nico Schulz and Jude Bellingham in the 29th minute. The attack started with a possession turnover in their own half and within 12 seconds the ball was in the back of the net. It was Malen's third goal in six Champions League appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

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BVB were clearly the better side in the opening half, with Gregor Kobel a total bystander in the first 45 minutes. The Black & Yellows had over 70% possession in spells, boasted the superior pass completion and tackle win rates, and of course had more shots than the Turkish top-flight outfit. BVB were awarded a penalty following a foul in the box with two minutes of the first half remaining. Dahoud was fouled by Welinton five metres from goal and, with referee Francois Letexier deeming it be a professional foul, the centre-back was given his marching orders. Marco Reus slotted home the resultant spot kick in stoppage time to make it 2-0 at the break.

Marco Rose opted to make a change at the interval. Reinier came on in place of Thomas Meunier, whose position was filled by Marius Wolf. And it was Reinier who registered the first shot of the second period. Nico Schulz fed the Brazilian, whose attempt missed the goal by a matter of centimetres.

But Marco Reus went one better on the 53-minute mark, playing a one-two with Mo Dahoud before surging past a couple of defenders and poking the ball past goalkeeper Destanoglu from three metres out to make it 3-0. The game was over as a contest by this point, with 10-man Besiktas offering absolutely nothing. As the game approached the hour mark, Marco Rose shuffled his pack again and brought on defender Felix Passlack and Erling Haaland for Marius Wolf and Marco Reus.

Haaland took five minutes to score his first goal. Nico Schulz delivered a pin-point cross to the Norwegian, who effortlessly headed the ball into the net from seven metres out to make it 4-0. It was now one-way traffic – with shots on a minutely basis. In the 73rd minute, Marin Pongracic and Raphael Guerreiro were introduced to the fray. Dan-Axel Zagadou and Jude Bellingham made way.

With 10 minutes remaining, Erling Haaland added the fifth goal of the game. A perfect corner-kick was delivered into the box and the Norwegian was allowed to head home unimpeded. The 21-year-old might have completed his hat-trick five minutes later, only to miss the target by a matter of centimetres. The final effort came from Axel Witsel, whose long-range shot was gathered by Destanoglu.

Outlook: 
There are three rounds of Bundesliga matches to go before the winter break: BVB go away to VfL Bochum on Saturday (15:30 CET), before welcoming Greuther Fürth to SIGNAL IDUNA PARK next Wednesday (20:30 CET). The first half of the campaign will then end away to Hertha BSC in Berlin on Saturday 18 December (18:30 CET).

Teams & goals