Dortmund bounce back as Reus double ensures 0-3 victory over Union Berlin

Germany: Bundesliga

Stadium at the old forester’s housefull time0-3

★Dortmund⚽ M Reus (18), ⚽ M Reus (25), ⚽ R Guerreiro (71)

By Ultan Corcoran

Dortmund’s captain led his team to all three points, while Guerreiro impressed in an unusually solid defensive display from BVB.

After enduring a miserable Matchday 21 hammering at the hands of Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund went on the road to high flying Union Berlin. Dortmund, without the likes of Haaland and Hazard, already knew how difficult this game would be, so in recent history the Alte Forsterei has proven to be a difficult ground for the Black and Yellows to conquer since FC Union’s promotion to the Bundesliga.

On 18 minutes, Marco Reus fired his side into a 0-1 lead. After a bit of a scramble just inside the Union box, the ball kindly fell to Dahoud who poked a pass through to Reus. The experienced German midfielder placed a firm shot through the legs of Luthe from just outside the left corner of the 6-yard box. This goal did somewhat reflect the opening proceedings as the away side controlled possession while producing more efforts on goal.

Reus went on to bag another goal eight minutes later. The hard-working Malen played an important role in the attack as his persistence pressured Baumgartl into surrendering possession, and then found the Dortmund captain in an advanced position. Another composed finish followed as Reus comfortably rounded Luthe and squeezed his shot inside the left upright for 0-2.

Oczipka had the first good opportunity for Union just after the half hour mark when he was played through on goal. To the disappointment of the home supporters, Dortmund’s €15 million man, Gregor Kobel, heroically spread himself and blocked the effort. Malen also had a chance in the following sequence but couldn’t bend his shot around Luthe at the opposite end.

Union came out of the blocks much improved in the second half; however, the best chances went the way of Rose’s Dortmund just before the hour mark. Guerreiro was afforded a freekick but failed to really trouble Luthe between the sticks. A sudden lapse in FC Union concentration directly after the aforementioned set piece allowed Bellingham through on goal who would have surely extended his side’s lead but for a brilliant recovery challenge from Jaeckel.

Borussia Dortmund would have felt they put the game to bed in the 71st minute when Portuguese full-back Guerreiro made it a three-goal lead to the visitors. Bellingham did brilliantly to keep the ball in play to find Malen. The Dutchman’s initial attempt was smothered, but Guerreiro arrived late to easily poke the ball home. Substitute Mohwald thought he pulled one back for Union seconds after the restart, but to the delight of Die Schwarzgelben VAR proceeded to chalk the goal off after Becker’s flailing elbow caught Akanji in the build-up – a day where nothing went right for Urs Fischer’s players .

Mohwald brought the best out of Kobel in the 84th minute with a long-range strike – the Swiss shot stopper went full stretch to maintain his side’s 0-3 lead and first away clean sheet of the campaign.

Dortmund will host Glasgow Rangers on Thursday night before dealing with Gladbach next weekend, while Union Berlin will visit Bielefeld in hope of a better result.

Most read