Berlin, Oct 2
Borussia Dortmund extended its unbeaten streak across all competitions with a convincing 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in their group stage clash at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
The host entered the contest full of confidence after four straight league wins, and coach Niko Kovac rotated his lineup in five positions, including the return of top scorer Serhou Guirassy.
Despite the changes, Dortmund quickly found their rhythm and took control of proceedings. Athletic, struggling with form and missing star forward Nico Williams through injury, offered little in the opening stages.
Dortmund's early dominance was rewarded in the 28th minute when Karim Adeyemi's sharp delivery was converted by Daniel Svensson for his first Champions League goal. The German side pushed for more, with Niklas Sule testing from distance, while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel remained untroubled at the other end.
After halftime, the momentum continued. Marcel Sabitzer's diagonal pass unlocked the Athletic defense, and Guirassy set up Carney Chukwuemeka to double the lead with a precise finish in the 50th minute. But the visitors briefly threatened a comeback, and a defensive lapse allowed Gorka Guruzeta to strike from close range just after the hour mark, halving the deficit.
Moments later, Robert Navarro found the net, only to be flagged offside, and he later went close again. Dortmund weathered the storm, with Svensson producing a vital clearance off the line to preserve the advantage. Relief came in the 82nd minute when Guirassy redirected a Sabitzer shot into the net for 3-1. Substitute Julian Brandt then sealed the result deep into stoppage time with a low drive.
"Always nice to play Champions League. Overall good performance of the team. Of course, I am happy with the win. We played a good first half with a lot of possession. Second half, we had a hard time, but the hard work paid off," said Dortmund defender Daniel Svensson.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Svensson had a fantastic game - first Champions League goal and crucial clearance. Dortmund's defense looked solid except for that one mistake. They need to be more consistent throughout 90 minutes.
Watching from Mumbai at 1:30 AM was totally worth it! Dortmund's attacking football is pure entertainment. Sabitzer's passing was class. Only concern is they tend to lose concentration after taking lead.
Great performance but let's be honest - Athletic Bilbao were missing key players. The real test will be against stronger opponents. Still, good to see Indian fans supporting European football with such passion!
Kovac's rotation policy working well. Bringing in fresh legs while maintaining quality shows good squad depth. Hope Indian clubs can learn from this kind of professional management someday.
The atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park must have been electric! As someone who follows Bundesliga from Delhi, Dortmund's home games are always special. They play with so much energy and the fans create amazing support.
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