Borussia Dortmund keep pressure on Bayern Munich with clinical win at Wolfsburg
Goals from wing-back duo Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi took Borussia Dortmund past Wolfsburg, keeping pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Wolfsburg 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Guerreiro (32'), 0-2 Hakimi (78')
Red card: Klaus (83')
Lucien Favre kept his side unchanged from their Revierderby win over Schalke last weekend, and Dortmund dominated the opening period in similar fashion. Chances were the only thing missing in the opening half-hour, Thorgan Hazard going closest with a shot wide of goal. But after continuing to press forward, Dortmund finally unlocked the Wolfsburg defence on 32 minutes. Julian Brandt and Hakimi helped send Hazard into the box and his cut-back was missed by Erling Haaland before being fired home by Guerreiro - the Portugal wing-back continuing his fantastic run of form. Hazard had another go before the break but once again failed to hit the target as Dortmund went into the break with a slender lead.
Wolfsburg made a more positive start to the second half, creating a series of chances. Renato Steffen came closest to the equaliser when the shaved the Dortmund crossbar, having been played in on goal by the returning Wout Weghorst. Steffen also had the next good opening, with his thumping volley stinging the palms of Roman Bürki just after the hour mark. Dortmund began to tick again after the introduction of Jadon Sancho, and the Englishman played a vital role in sealing their win. His run from the halfway line to the Wolfsburg box was followed by a simple pass to Hakimi, and the wing-back powered a shot past Koen Casteels for 2-0. Wolfsburg even finished the game with 10 men, as substitute Felix Klaus saw red late on for a rash challenge on Manuel Akanji.
Match stats
- Dortmund have won nine of 10 games in 2020 and ended Wolfsburg's seven-match unbeaten run today.
- Raphael Guerreiro has now scored eight goals in the Bundesliga this season – that’s just one fewer than the total amount he scored in his first three seasons at Dortmund combined.
- Only Jadon Sancho (16) and Thomas Müller (16) have more assists than Thorgan Hazard's 12 in the Bundesliga this season.
- Dortmund have now won their last five in Wolfsburg, becoming the first side to ever win five in a row at the Volkswagen Arena.
- After 27 matches of 2019/20, BVB have scored a club-record 74 goals. They had notched 66 at this stage last season.
- Mats Hummels made his 250th Bundesliga appearance for Dortmund.
Watch: Delaney: "We always need to give 100 per cent"
Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) – Mbabu, Pongracic, Brooks, Roussillon (Klaus 64‘) – Schlager, Arnold – Steffen, Mehmedi (Victor 85') – Ginczek (Brekalo 64‘), Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, Horn, Marmoush, Knoche, Tisserand, Justvan
Out: Camacho (ankle), Gerhardt (head injury), Guilavogui (knee), William (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
Dortmund: Bürki - Piszczek (c), Hummels (Can 46'), Akanji - Hakimi, Dahoud, Delaney (Balerdi 83'), Guerreiro (Schmelzer 83') - Hazard (Reyna 79'), Haaland, Brandt (Sancho 65')
Unused subs: Hitz, Götze, Morey, Raschl
Out: Reus (thigh), Schulz (muscular), Witsel (groin), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Lucien Favre
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