Fohlen defeated in Bundesliga opener

Borussia suffered defeat in their Bundesliga opener on Saturday evening, losing 3-0 away at last season’s runners up Borussia Dortmund.

9,300 fans watched on at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, as BVB and the Foals put on a high-intensity, even spectacle in the first half. Both sides sought to put their opponents under pressure early, moving with pace in the transition. Jonas Hofmann passed up Borussia’s best chance of the half hour mark following a fine through ball from Hannes Wolf, before Giovanni Reyna put the hosts in front at the other end minutes later. The second half began in similar fashion, with both sides battling hard for the all-important second goal, but Gladbach’s hopes of bouncing back were dashed when a penalty was awarded against Ramy Bensebaini (51’). Erling Haaland converted clinically, before wrapping up the win with a second late on (78’). 

LINE-UP AND TEAM NEWS

Head coach Marco Rose made two changes to the team that opened the season with an 8-0 win in the DFB-Pokal last weekend. Yann Sommer and Oscar Wendt came in for Tobias Sippel and Patrick Herrmann. A defensive line of Stefan Lainer, Matthias Ginter, Nico Elvedi, Ramy Bensebaini and Wendt were procted by Christoph Kramer and Florian Neuhaus. Wolf, Jonas Hofmann and captain Lars Stindl led the attack. 

A host of players remained unavailable to Rose for the match in Dortmund: Denis Zakaria (recovery ongoing), Breel Embolo (ankle), Valentin Lazaro (calf) László Bénes (ankle ligament), Andreas Poulsen (shoulder op) and Julio Villalba (muscular problem).

1ST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

21': Bensebaini dives into a challenge and concedes a dangerous free kick, from which Haaland is unable to hit the target with his headed chance.
22': Haaland has a speculative shot from the left, but Elvedi gets an important deflection and the ball hits the side netting. 
31': Hofmann plays the ball from wide into Wolf in the middle, who playes the ball straight back through on goal, but Bürki is alert to clear the danger before Hofmann can get a shot on goal.
35': Can crosses in from the right. Reyna receives and plays a one-two with Bellingham before slotting across goal past Sommer. 1-0 to Dortmund.
41': Another dangerous cross from Can is met by Sancho, who heads the ball onto the top of the crossbar.
42': Lainer cuts in from the right and fizzes a shot on the BVB goal, but Bürki saves well.

2ND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

51': Bensebaini stops Reyna charging into the box with a last-ditch tackle. Despite cameras showing contact with the ball before player, VAR awards a penalty. Haaland converts to double Dortmund’s lead. 
78': Delaney heads clear from a Gladbach corner before Hummels sends on a counter attack. The English winger plays a deft ball through to Haaland, who fires past Sommer and seals the 3-0 victory. 

MATCH STATS

Borussia Dortmund: Bürki – Can, Hummels, Akanji – Meunier, Reyna (79' Brandt), Witsel, Bellingham (67' Delaney), Hazard (19' Passlack) – Sancho (79' Reus), Haaland

Borussia: Sommer, Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini, Wendt (69' Herrmann) – Kramer, Neuhaus – Wolf (57' Thuram), Hofmann, Stindl (57' Plea)

Goals: 1-0 Reyna (35’), 2-0 Haaland (53’,pen), 3-0 Haaland (78')

Yellow cards: Akanji (13') / Stindl (39')

Referee: Dr. Felix Brych

Spectators: 9,300
 

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