Erling Haaland scores on comeback in Borussia Dortmund win at Wolfsburg
Erling Haaland marked his comeback from injury with his 50th Bundesliga goal as Borussia Dortmund came from behind to win at Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 1-0 Weghorst 2' (assist: Baku), 1-1 Can (pen. 35'), 1-2 Malen 55' (assist: Reus), 1-3 Haaland 81' (assist: Brandt)
Wolfsburg set the tone for an absorbing encounter when Wout Weghorst met Ridle Baku's right-wing cross with an improvised early finish using his chest. Chances flowed at both ends as Mahmoud Dahoud shot wide and Donyell Malen tested Pavao Pervan, before Weghorst returned fire with a shot on the turn at Gregor Kobel and Dodi Lukebakio found the side netting. Dortmund began to assert their authority around the half-hour, though, and were deservedly level with 10 minutes of the first half remaining. Maxence Lacroix caught the heels of Marco Reus in the box, with Emre Can sending Pervan the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Dortmund had their tails up as Nico Schulz volleyed against the upright with the first opening of the second half. Wolfsburg found momentary respite when Aster Vranckx drew a flying save from Kobel following a counter, but fell behind for the first time soon after. Reus fed Malen, who skipped past two challenges and arrowed low past Pervan from the edge of the area. That goal sparked Wolfsburg into life, with only a fine Kobel save denying Lukebakio. Haaland then made his return following 39 days out and the 21-year-old made Pervan work with his first touch. Lukebakio sent a close-range header over from three yards and stung the palms of Kobel, but Haaland had the final say. The BVB goal machine toed in Julian Brandt's 81st-minute cross to keep up the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the table ahead of next weekend's Klassiker meeting.
Match stats
- Haaland has reached 50 Bundesliga goals quicker than any other player - in just 50 games. He has scored 10 times in seven league appearances this season.
- Malen scored for the third straight competitive match.
- Wolfsburg have lost their last seven matches against Dortmund, and have earned only one point in the last 13 meetings of the sides.
- The Wolves lost for the first time under Florian Kohfeldt, following five unbeaten games in all competitions.
- Weghorst has now scored against all of the Bundesliga's current clubs.
- Mats Hummels became the sixth player to make 300 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund.
Watch: Can: "Haaland gives us more confidence"
Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Pervan - Lacroix, Guilavogui (Philipp 90'+1), Brooks - Baku (Mbabu 74'), Vranckx, Arnold (c), Roussillon (Otavio 61') - L. Nmecha (Waldschmidt 61'), Lukebakio - Weghorst
Unused subs: Klinger, Bornauw, Van de Ven, F. Nmecha, Gerhardt
Out: Bialek (knee), Casteels (not included), Schlager (knee), Steffen (calf), William (knee)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Schulz (Zagadou 85') – Brandt, Can (Witsel 85'), Dahoud - Wolf (Knauff 62'), Malen (Haaland 72'), Reus (c)
Unused subs: Hitz, Reinier, Tigges, Witsel, Passlack, Pongracic
Out: Bellingham (knee), Bürki (ill), Guerreiro (muscular), Hazard (not included), Morey (knee), Moukoko (eye), Reyna (thigh), Schmelzer (knee), Unbehaun (hand)
Coach: Marco Rose
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