Another five for BVB as Cologne are swept aside 5-1

Boris Rupert reporting

The 81,365 spectators saw BVB dominate the opening period and establish a 2-0 lead before the interval thanks to goals from Raphael Guerreiro and Marco Reus in the first and 28th minutes respectively. It almost became three when Hummels, who had set up both goals, saw his header thunder back off the Cologne crossbar! Borussia scored another early goal through Sancho three minutes into the second half and, although Cologne did pull one back through Mark Uth on 65 minutes, substitute Erling Haaland netted in the 77th and 87th minutes to seal a 5-1 win.

The scenario:  
Fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund went into this one on a six-game unbeaten streak and a three-match winning run against 13th-placed 1. FC Cologne. The Billy Goats had not won in Dortmund for almost 29 years. That said, they were on their best Bundesliga run in 19 years, having won four consecutive fixtures since Matchday 15.

Personnel matters: 
It was the same BVB starting XI that won 5-3 in Augsburg a week ago. There was one change to the bench, however, with Alcácer in the squad instead of Bruun Larsen. Delaney, Schmelzer (both fitness) and Zagadou (fibre tear) were still absent.

Tactics:  
Cologne adopted an identical approach to Augsburg, using high and aggressive pressing in an attempt to put the Westphalians under pressure with their build-up play. The men from the Rhineland lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system in which Thielmann – on the right of the front three – would drift inside to make place for the overlapping right-back Ehizibue when the visitors had the ball. The Black & Yellows stuck with their 3-4-1-2 system with Hummels at the heart of defence and the attacking players often interchanging positions.

The match & analysis:
As had been the case in Augsburg, Hummels found the perfect way to circumvent the opposition pressing – this time by playing a dream pass to Hazard that initiated the first attack. Reus fed Sancho and he cut the ball back across the box towards Guerreiro, who was on hand to meet it with his right foot and open the scoring inside 52 seconds.

There was another excellent opportunity soon afterwards when Hakimi ran onto a through-ball, only to be felled by Bornauw. Referee Osmers initially pointed to the penalty spot but then overturned his decision following a consultation with the video assistant, instead awarding a free-kick on the edge of the box. Reus curled a dangerous effort at goal that was parried by Cologne keeper Horn, with Hummels hitting the woodwork from the ensuing corner.

Hummels was one of the standout performers for the Black & Yellows, who appeared to have found the right balance between attack and defence. On the half-hour mark, the world champion made another world-class pass towards Reus and the captain coolly nutmegged Horn to double the home side's advantage. The linesman initially disallowed the goal for offside but video assistant Stieler spotted that Czichos had been playing him onside and the call was rightly overturned. Hazard could have made it 3-0 five minutes before the break but Horn reacted well to deny him.

Dortmund were caught napping early on in the second half when Cordoba went clean through, but neither he nor Jakobs could get the better of Bürki (though the flag was up for offside and it wouldn't have counted anyway). The next goal came at the other end in the 48th minute, Sancho rounding off a move that involved Hazard, Brandt and Reus with a powerful effort high into the net to make it 3-0. Hakimi and Sancho (53) could have added a fourth minutes later. Cologne had their first big chance barely 60 seconds later, with Bürki making a top save to deny Uth, but he was powerless to keep out the Cologne forward 11 minutes later. A high ball was played towards the left and Uth drilled the ball inside the far post.

Haaland came on immediately afterwards to make his home debut and he almost scored immediately. Reus won the ball back and Sancho fed the Norwegian, whose shot was blocked by Horn.

Cologne launched a late charge, first going close through a Hector header on 70 minutes and then replacing right-back Ehizibue with a second striker, Modeste, four minutes later. But BVB quickly got the game back under control, putting the Billy Goats under pressure and re-establishing their three-goal lead 13 minutes from time. Horn initially denied Hakimi and Guerreiro, but Haaland was on hand to poke home the rebound to make it 4-1. He added a fifth 10 minutes later, latching onto a through-ball from Dahoud and rounding Horn before firing home from a narrow angle.

Watch all the goals and highlights at a click

Outlook: 
BVB can look forward to home advantage again at the weekend, with 1. FC Union Berlin the next Bundesliga visitors on Saturday (kick-off is at 15:30 CET).

Teams & goals