Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: 3 best players for Dortmund | Bundesliga 2019-20

Lucien Favre's side put in a top-notch performance against a difficult Leverkusen team.
Lucien Favre's side put in a top-notch performance against a difficult Leverkusen team.

Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways after they thrashed Bayer Leverkusen by 4 goals to nil in their fourth Bundesliga match of the season.

Although the game was very much open-ended and Leverkusen registered more shots, they were unable to score. In the end, Dortmund demonstrated their quality with clinical finishing.

Paco Alcácer scored with his first sight of goal in the 28th minute with an exquisite volley from Achraf Hakimi’s cross. Marco Reus scored Dortmund’s second in the 50th minute after a cross from Jadon Sancho.

Sancho provided again with a cross for Raphaël Guerreiro in the 83rd minute. Reus finished the rout at the end of the match with a delivery from Jacob Bruun Larsen.

Without further ado, let us look at the three Dortmund players who were crucial to their third win of the season.


#1 Marco Reus

Marco Reus (centre) was a happy man as he scored a brace against Leverkusen.
Marco Reus (centre) was a happy man as he scored a brace against Leverkusen.

The Borussia Dortmund captain gave a performance that befitted his experience and abilities as an attacking player. Playing centrally in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Marco Reus caused havoc amongst the Leverkusen defenders.

He was able to pick the ball up deep from midfield and start counterattacks by linking up with the players in front of him, such as Sancho and Alcacer. The link-up between the three players nearly yielded a goal for the German at the 20-minute mark. Sancho fed the ball to Alcacer, who in turn played a reverse pass to Reus. The resulting shot was saved sharply by Leverkusen’s Lukas Hradecky.

The 30-year-old continually drove forward into the box and highlighted his attacking prowess. He ultimately got his goal, when he slotted the ball past Hradecky in the 50th minute after a low cross from Sancho into the box.

Reus scored his second goal in the last moments of the match with a simple tap in after he was fed through by Jacob Bruun Larsen. Overall, it was an impressive all-round performance by the Germany international.

Paco Alcacer and Reus linked up well.
Paco Alcacer and Reus linked up well.

#2 Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho was in form after scoring his first two goals for England in the international break.
Jadon Sancho was in form after scoring his first two goals for England in the international break.

At just the tender age of 19, Jadon Sancho made his 50th Bundesliga appearance for his club. He celebrated the landmark in style, with two assists to his name.

The first assist was a slick counterattack from Dortmund when the Englishman bombed down the right-hand side. His low drive into the box was dummied by Alcacer and converted by Reus.

The second assist was similar as he delivered another low cross into the box in the 83rd minute. The ball was parried by Hradecky, only for it to fall to Raphael Guerreiro who scored quite comfortably.

Throughout the game, Sancho dribbled past the opposition and started devastating attacks for Dortmund. It was an encouraging display by the youngster, who now has 15 goals and 25 assists in the Bundesliga already. It will be a pleasure for the fans to see Sancho tearing apart defences throughout the rest of the season.

#3 Thomas Delaney

Thomas Delaney proved himself in the game vs Leverkusen.
Thomas Delaney proved himself in the game vs Leverkusen.

It was only Thomas Delaney’s second appearance of the season, with Lucien Favre preferring Julian Weigl in the defensive midfield position in previous games.

However, the Denmark international proved his place in the team with a commanding presence. He constantly won headers and tackles in an attempt to break down Leverkusen’s attacks.

In particular, he snuffed out any threat that could be posed by Kai Havertz of Leverkusen. The 20-year-old had a torrid time in midfield as Delaney battled with him for the ball and was successful on multiple occasions.

The midfielder's greatest contribution to the attack led to Dortmund's third goal as he played a cross-field pass to Sancho. The Englishman was able to provide the cross for Reus to convert.

Due to Delaney’s interventions, Leverkusen could not get a clear sight on goal and Dortmund were able to get a clean sheet for the first time this season.

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Edited by S Chowdhury