After Turin’s collapse, Borussia Dortmund made the first win in the Champions League thanks to the freshly discovered striker Daniel Svensson.
BVB won 4: 1 (1-0) against the long weak Basque opponent Athletic Bilbao, but once again made some dropouts. Unlike the wild 4: 4 at the start of Juventus Turin, however, they did not difficult.
Svensson, who had recently met in the league, put BVB in the lead in the 28th minute. Carney Chukwuemeka (50th) increased, but Gorka Guruzeta (61.) brought Bilbao again. Serhou Guirassy (82nd) and Julian Brandt (90.+1) made everything clear late. With four points from two games, Dortmund is in the target, the clear goal is to achieve the co-phase. The heavy test stones RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich are now waiting in the Bundesliga – after that it continues in the premier class at FC Copenhagen.
“It was a well-deserved victory, we scored four goals, even if it was a bit shaky in between,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl at “DAZN”, “We are satisfied with the performance, everyone is happy home.”
Dortmund had a long grip on Bilbao, who had to get by without his wing striker Nico Williams. In the first round, BVB did not give the opponent a single shot.
It was only in the 53rd minute that Gregor Kobel was challenged for the first time, he kept the end of Maroan Sannadi with a little trouble, the goalkeeper was powerless when the goal was. In the final phase, Bilbao always came to more dangerous deals.
Kovac surprised with BVB starting eleven
Trainer Niko Kovac had surprised with his starting eleven: In defense, the recovered Nico Schlotterbeck did not start, but for the first time Niklas Süle, who had not yet played a game of the season because of a calf injury.
And in midfield, the coach Jobe Bellingham gave trust. Felix Nmecha replaced the Englishman, who had switched to BVB for 30 million euros and had no easy stand. Chukwuemeka received preference to Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier.
From the beginning, Dortmund had the game control, but it took a while for the Bundesliga club to take up speed. First Marcel Sabitzer (20th) awarded, then Svensson was right and used a flat cross from Karim Adeyemi. Even after that, Bilbao remained reserved and passive, Süle used the freedom for two degrees (36th). Overall, however, BVB made too little out of its superiority.
Bilbao’s trainer Ernesto Valverde reacted with three changes after the break – but Chukwuemeka was on hand on the first chance. Because Süle was very unfortunate in a defense campaign, Guruzeta was allowed to shorten. The goal was an effect that BVB slipped control. Bilbao cheered the equalization by Roberto Navarro (67th), but the goal was not due to an offside position.
Kovac brought Nmecha and Schlotterbeck in the final phase to get more control again. It became increasingly hectic. Guirassy calmed down with the 3-1 when he wasted a shot by Marcel Sabitzer, but the nerves again.