5-0 against Düsseldorf – the enjoyment is back

Boris Rupert reports from Dortmund

A sell-out crowd of 81,365 fans in Signal Iduna Park witnessed a mature performance by Borussia, who took the lead three minutes before half time with a goal from Marco Reus. BVB followed up with two fantastic goals by Thorgan Hazard in the 58th and Jadon Sancho in the 63rd minute respectively to put the result beyond doubt at 3-0. Reus, in the 70th minute, and Sancho, in the 74th minute, each added their second goals of the game as BVB racked up their biggest win of the season.

The scenario: 
The Black & Yellows went into the game unbeaten in eight home games against Fortuna, showing six wins and two draws during this run. Historically, Düsseldorf have won more away games at BVB (six) than at any other team in the Bundesliga. However, you have go back almost 34 years for the last of these successes.

Personnel matters: 
Piszczek replaced the suspended Hummels in defence. Otherwise, it was the same team that faced Hertha Berlin last weekend. Delaney (ankle ligament tear) and Schmelzer (muscle tear) were both ruled out. 17-year-old Giovanni Reyna made the squad for the first time.

Tactics:  
In Dortmund’s new 3-4-3 formation, Akanji took over as the central defender in a three-man defence, with Piszczek on the right-hand side. Like in Berlin, Witsel and Brandt formed a "double six" partnership in central midfield. On the flanks, Hakimi (right) and Guerreiro only helped out in defence when Düsseldorf enjoyed possession and wide players Zimmer and Thommy were pushing up. Fortuna defended in a basic 4-5-1 formation, in which Zimmer and Thommy bolstered the ranks to make a six-man defence. Sancho usually stayed out on the left flank, while Reus worked the central areas, leaving the offensive wing to Hakimi.

The match & analysis:
Düsseldorf defended uncompromisingly and cleverly closed down space. Düsseldorf’s attacking and defensive right sided players, Zimmer and Zimmermann, had both picked up yellow cards by the half hour mark.  BVB put Fortuna under pressure right from the start, racking up 74% possession after just over half an hour – and had already carved out two great chances. In the 10th minute, Hazard broke free on the right-hand side, playing in Reus whose powerful, well-placed shot from 15 meters was pushed out for a corner by goalkeeper Steffen. Ten minutes later, Guerreiro's effort from 19 meters from the left flashed inches past the post.

Borussia went about their work busily in the first half, keeping their shape, passing the ball well (95% of passes found teammates) and showing the necessary sharpness. Fortuna did not enjoy their first shot on goal until the 37th minute. Up the other end, Reus and Guerreiro just failed to get on the end of Hakimi’s cross moments before.

Shortly before the half-time break, Borussia were rewarded for a good first half performance: Brandt, who enjoyed numerous good moments both defensively and offensively, passed on the turn to Piszczek, who had moved to the edge of the penalty area and  forwarded perfectly into the path of Reus, who had no trouble in taking advantage of the brilliant approach play to convert his seventh goal of the season in the 42nd minute. The enjoyment was back at the Black & Yellows. Even if it was not crowned with a goal, it was great to see a double one-two between Hazard and Reus in and around the penalty area, which Sancho just failed to put away on the stroke of half-time.

Zagadou demonstrated this new self-confidence just a couple of minutes after the restart: The defender had the second goal in his sights, letting loose from 25 meters which Steffen had difficulty in saving. The stadium announcer Norbert Dickel did announce the second goal in the 52nd minute, but the video review (VAR) was still checking the action in the background: Reus was marginally offside from Brandt’s pass so Sancho's goal did not count. Nevertheless: it was brilliantly carved out and further proof of the rediscovered enjoyment.

With just a single exception, it was one way traffic: Ironically when Düsseldorf had nine outfield players in the Dortmund half, Brandt won the ball and passed to Sancho as BVB broke at lightning speed. Hazard finished the counterattack firing in off the post to double the lead in the 58th minute. Five minutes later, Sancho and Reus prized open the visitors’ defence on the left side; and the England international converted the captain’s pass to make it 3-0. And so, it continued. Akanji intercepted Giesselmann's pass, Witsel found Hazard, who whipped the ball in from the right and Reus only needed to poke home the fourth goal with 20 minutes remaining.

And only four minutes later it was 5-0. Sancho started off the move with a through ball to Hakimi, converting the cross for his seventh goal of the season in the 74th minute. Also, of note: Balerdi came on as a substitute for Piszczek in the 78th minute for his Bundesliga debut.

Watch all the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
We head into Christmas with two "English Weeks": On Tuesday, (kick-off 21:00 CET, last few tickets available here), BVB hosts Slavia Prague as we remain in contention for a place in the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen. This coming Saturday, BVB travels to face 1 FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga (kick-off 15:30 CET).

Teams & Goals