Borussia Dortmund welcomed Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, as Edin Terzic’s side attempt to close the gap to table-topping Bayern Munich. Thomas Tuchel’s side thrashed Schalke by a staggering six-goal margin earlier in the day, extending the gap to four points.
BVB: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Sule, Wolf; Can, Bellingham; Adeyemi, Brandt, Malen; Haller
BMG: Olchowsky; Bensebaini, Elvedi, Friedrich, Lainer; Kone, Weigl; Wolf, Neuhaus, Hofmann; Ngoumou
As is always the case when Dortmund play at home, a powerful rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone welcomed the players on to the pitch. The infamous Yellow Wall was as loud as ever – knowing a win would take them only a point behind the league leaders, Bayern.
The fiery atmosphere helped BVB launch into a fantastic start, as their early intensity proved too much for Borussia Mönchengladbach to deal with. With only five minutes on the clock, Haller received the ball 30 yards out and began driving at the Mönchengladbach defence. He fired a shot towards goal, forcing Olschowsky into action in the opposition’s net – but it was deflected and left the keeper stranded. This left Malen with an open goal to head the ball in from a few yards out to make it 1-0.
Dortmund’s early onslaught didn’t end there, however. Ten minutes after the opener, the hosts were awarded a penalty as Haller was pushed in the back by Neuhaus. Jude Bellingham stepped up and coolly converted from twelve yards out, doubling their lead.
As Wolfsburg can tell you, when Dortmund are in form, they are extremely difficult to stop. This proved to be the case once again, as Dortmund scored their second goal in three minutes – and their third of the game. It was Malen who started the move, and a well worked one-two with Brandt saw him on the byline in the Mönchengladbach box. He drilled it across the middle where he found Haller, who finished the move with an exquisite back-heel. The move was irresistible, the finish unstoppable, and Dortmund led by three.
The first half was a ruthless display by Dortmund, as they showed no mercy to their opposition. Haller scored his second of the game in the 32nd minute, after another inch perfect cross from Malen. It was an attacking masterclass from Dortmund, putting any doubts about the result to bed.
After the break the goals stopped flowing, but the Dortmund onslaught carried on in the same way it had done in the first half. Olschowsky – a point of light in a very dull Monchengladbach side – was forced into save after save, preventing a cricket score.
Dortmund finally took their foot off the gas in the 73rd minute, however, as they conceded a late penalty. Bensebaïni broke in behind and was tripped by Gio Reyna. It was Bensebaïni who stepped up, and he continued his 100% record of scoring penalties in the Bundesliga, making it 4-1.
It seemed as though a late comeback could have been on the cards after Lars Stindl scored with a formidable strike from outside the area, but a late tap-in from Gio Reyna ensured that Dortmund secured all three points.