Borussia Dortmund clearly won the first game of the group stage in the Champions League. Marco Reus was again the decisive man in the 3-0 (2-0) win against FC Copenhagen and set a BVB record.
It is quite unusual for a football professional over the age of 30 to make his debut in the Champions League. At Borussia Dortmund, this happened twice at the start of the new season in the premier class against FC Copenhagen. This was to be expected in the case of Anthony Modeste, 34, who also switched from 1. FC Köln to BVB because of this opportunity. Quite unexpectedly, however, this honor was given to Alexander Meyer.
BVB starts happily, Modeste inaccurately
The 31-year-old, who came from the second division club Jahn Regensburg in the summer, usually sits on the substitutes’ bench or plays for the U23s, but due to the injury to regular keeper Gregor Kobel (torn muscle fiber) he has now been used in the Champions League. And right after 20 seconds he was in the limelight. Meyer would have had no chance when Zeca shot, but the ball went just wide and touched the outer post slightly.
The second high point of the game was debutant Modeste. After a cross from Julian Brandt, the striker was completely free eight meters from the goal, but missed the big chance quite miserably (8th minute). But it was the starting signal for BVB, who controlled the game from then on and, with strong counter-pressing, held it almost exclusively in the opposing half.
The 1-0 Reus strikes again
After a good half hour Dortmund cracked the Copenhagen defense. Brandt was again the preparer, but this time he served Marco Reus, who scored the 1-0 after a solo (35th). After putting BVB in the lead for the 45th time last weekend and thus beating a record set by Manfred Burgsmüller, this record now belongs to him alone.
Reus was also involved in the second goal when he asserted himself robustly in the opposing penalty area. The filigree part of the exercise was then completed by Giovanni Reyna and Raphael Guerreiro, who was allowed to slide into the empty goal after a one-two (43′).
Bellingham ended Dortmund’s usury of chances
The game didn’t change in the second half either. Dortmund kept the game wide of their own goal and pressed for the third goal. Modeste was only centimeters short after a Guerreiro cross (54′), Brandt fell into reserve from ten meters after a Reus cross pass and missed the goal clearly (58′). In another scene, Moukoko took the ball from his colleague Brandt in front of the goal – and made it 3-0 off his foot (81st).
Jude Bellingham then made the final decision. After one of the numerous crosses from the right, the England international was there in the penalty area (84′). Shortly thereafter, there was one last big cheer in the stadium when the outstanding Reus was substituted.
Dortmund wants to do better than last season
Like a year ago, BVB got off to a perfect start in the Champions League. At that time there was a 2-1 opening win besiktas Istanbul, the second game against Sporting Lisbon (1:0) was also successful. Because three defeats followed, Dortmund failed in the group stage and is looking for compensation this season. Thanks in particular to Reus, the first step has been taken.
BVB will play the next game in the premier class next week on Wednesday (September 14th, 2022) at group favourite Manchester City with Dortmund’s ex-striker Erling Haaland. Before that, on Saturday (September 10th, 2022, 3.30 p.m.), coach Edin Terzic’s team will play the Bundesliga game at RB Leipzig.