BVB have successfully started their Bundesliga campaign with a high-scoring 5-1 win over FC Augsburg on Saturday.
BVB started their title quest with a bang one night after Bayern Munich failed to win the Bundesliga curtain-raiser against Hertha Berlin. The 80,000 spectators saw an entertaining match in the bright-yellow shining Westfalenstadion.
Lucien Favre once again had to make do without Roman Bürki, who still has a training deficit and is expected to return between the sticks against Cologne next week according to Michael Zorc.
First half
Same shit, different season for Dortmund, who ONCE AGAIN conceded within the first minute of the new campaign. 29 seconds in, Florian Niederlechner had an easy tap-in because Lukasz Piszczek, Manuel Akanji and especially Jadon Sancho were still in hibernation.
Though, BVB immediately rectified their traditional maiden voyage lapse. Just one minute after Augsburg’s only first-half shot, Paco Alcácer poked the ball into the net from close range. Goalkeeper Tomas Koubek’s insufficient leg clearance of Marco Reus’ cross put the ball on a platter for the Spaniard, who felt almost too embarrassed to celebrate.
Though Koubek should redeem himself in the first 45 minutes, parrying thunderbolts from Julian Weigl (yes, you read that correctly), Axel Witsel and Marco Reus.
The 1-1 halftime score did not reflect the run of play and also not BVB’s inventiveness to create chances. The hosts had five or six plays alone that resulted in a dangerous cut-back from the goal line. While box-crowding Augsburg managed to intercept most of the passes, it was nevertheless an encouraging sign that BVB are consistently finding ways to progress into the most dangerous places of the penalty area.
Second half
It’s safe to say that Tomas Koubek’s path to redemption regained a few extra miles within the first 15 minutes of the second half. Dortmund practically ended the competition by scoring thrice within the 51st and 59th minute.
The second half torment started for Koubek when he tipped a Witsel-cross right into the path of Sancho, who directed it right back at goal, through the legs of an Augsburg defender. The ball pinged from the post into the net. Sweet.
Sancho also instigated BVB’s third goal by simply floating a cross into the box. Koubek, in a misguided attempt to gather the ball, awkwardly half-punched it right in front of Alcácer. The striker smartly squared it to Reus, who made sure not to hit the two Augsburg players, who were insufficiently trying their best to guard the agape net. Alcácer celebrated this goal more than any other goal, including the next.
The following deadly wave of attack rolled in just minutes later because 19-year-old Sancho was way too giddy to wait for his first assist until the next game. Naturally, he found BVB’s Spanish centre-forward in the box, who put his car in reverse and once again drove over the lifeless remains that was Augsburg’s spirit. He ruthlessly smashed the ball into the top right corner. 4-1. Game over.
Not literally though because there were still over 30 minutes left to play and Lucien Favre was yet to unleash Achraf Hakimi, Julian Brandt and Mario Götze, adding to Augsburg’s nightmares.
So Martin Schmidt’s dogdays afternoon continued, as the Black and Yellows ensured that the tv cameras mostly captured parts of the Südtribüne. Both Weigl and Witsel enjoyed suffocating their opposition by repetitively reclaiming the ball in the final third and then artfully floating it into the path of a yellow runner.
In the 82nd minute, Witsel was finally rewarded for his perfectly weighted lob over the backline, playing a ball into the path of Brandt so soft it could sell detergent. The summer-bargain did not mess around and converted the airborne ball first-time with his left foot for the 5-1 final score. Delightful.
Takeaways
- Dortmund need longer to boot than Windows 95. HOW CAN YOU CONCEDE WITHIN THE FIRST MINUTE OF THE SEASON THREE TIMES IN A ROW?
- Weigsl is here to stay. The midfield partnership was the key to — well — unlock Augsburg’s defensive shape and relentlessly keep the pressure up and the ball faraway from their own goal
- Bad news for 17 Bundesliga teams: Paco is in shape. Two goals, one assist. Woof.
- Jadon Sancho’s case of the sloppies continues. The Englishman is not on top of his game yet but his baseline is so high that it was enough for another goal and assist. Frightening.
- For now, Dortmund look like they are tactically equipped to break down defensive teams like Augsburg. It wasn’t even close in the end.
- However, BVB’s defence did not look too convincing whenever they had to defend in the final third.
- BVB have increased their threat on corner kicks due to Mats Hummels, who came close to scoring several times.
- “Schuuuuulz” chants are great
- Dortmund fans were not sure how to feel when Mats Hummels took the captain’s armband after Reus got subbed off
- It’s gonna be a fun season!
- Augsburg are stern relegation candidates and Martin Schmidt might be the first Bundesliga coach to be sacked
