6-0 against Warsaw, 6-0 against Darmstadt: Borussia Dortmund have used the middle of the month of September to finally get into the season proper. After the two thrashings handed out within four days, which will help with the forgetting of the setback in Leipzig one week ago, BVB can now go into their upcoming fixtures with their heads up and their chests out. A topping up of self-confidence levels was certainly necessary, since four tough opponents await them now across the next two weeks.

"It is true that Warsaw and Darmstadt do not merit the highest of expectations" said Sebastian Rode while analysing the match on Saturday evening in the bowels of the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, but he maintained: "You still have actually got to go out and put the six goals past them first." In that, he is completely correct, as the game against Darmstadt highlighted that the Black and Yellows are currently capable of successfully overcoming teams that stand deep with nine men behind the ball.

Brisk youth in attack

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Youngsters: Christian Pulisic (r.) and Felix Passlack

"To play against a basic formation consisting of a back five with a line of four in front of it is probably the hardest test you can face", said Thomas Tuchel. "To get in front of goal, you require the right combination of speed and patience." His team carried this out against the Lilies with some bravura, and did so despite the absence of such top-level offensive players as Aubameyang and Götze (due to concerns about overload) as well as Reus and Schürrle (due to injury). The young guard of Raphael Guerreiro, Ousmane Dembélé, Christian Pulisic and Emre Mor showed what depth and breadth BVB have in the squad in wide positions.

Guerreiro, along with Adrian Ramos, frequently reduced the guests' defence to a state of terror and bewilderment. Pulisic crowned his gala presentation one day before his eighteenth birthday with two assists and a goal, and Dembélé too swirled down the flank, conspicuous as a provider of assists. Mor would come on as a substitute in his debut Bundesliga game to score his first goal. "An incredible feeling and a perfect day", was they way in which the youngster summarised his emotions after the game.

"It was the right combination that won it for us"

However, it was not just the younger players, but also the more experienced ones who came up trumps on Saturday in the SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. Gonzalo Castro in particular, who pulled the strings in midfield and sealed a great individual performance with two goals, was the centre of much attention. Likewise Sebastian Rode, who imitated Castro by scoring his first goal in a competitive match for BVB with his heel. " It was the right combination that won it for us in the end" said Thomas Tuchel about the mixture of youth and experience that took to the field against Darmstadt. The more experienced players "offered them the perfect set up to be able to play as freely as possible" clarified the BVB manager.

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Keep the pace fast and have high expectations

"Against both Warsaw and Darmstadt we were clearly the favourites" continued Tuchel. "We made the most of this role on both occasions and gave an optimal performance. It is still too early to draw any conclusions. We will of course be subjected to further tests and would be well advised to keep the pace fast and have high expectations of ourselves." This will come to pass as early as Tuesday, when BVB play away at Wolfsburg. Thereafter follow fixtures against SC Freiburg, Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, with those against Wolfsburg and Leverkusen, but perhaps above all the game against Real Madrid, likely to turn into real benchmark tests before the next international break. Borussia Dortmund should have a good idea then where this season's journey is destined to reach.
Dennis-Julian Gottschlich