Borussia Dortmund finally exorcised the ghosts of their six-game away winless streak in the Bundesliga with a convincing 3-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Darmstadt. The win, secured in no small part by a returning Jadon Sancho and a clinical Marco Reus, sees Dortmund climb back into fifth place and reignite their Champions League aspirations.
From the get-go, Dortmund were on the front foot. New signing Ian Maatsen, on his debut, nearly teed up Julian Brandt for an opener, but the midfielder’s volleying effort found only the outstretched arms of Darmstadt goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen. Undeterred, Brandt made amends minutes later, curling a delightful first-time finish into the far corner after a mazy dribble and through ball from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. It was Brandt’s sixth Bundesliga goal of the season and his 13th overall, a testament to his growing influence on the team.
Darmstadt, to their credit, showed flashes of quality, with top scorer Tim Skarke blazing over at the back post after a delightful Luca Pfeiffer cross. Pfeiffer himself had a go shortly after the restart, but his long-range effort was comfortably saved by Gregor Kobel.
The second half saw the highly anticipated return of Jadon Sancho, and his presence seemed to electrify both Dortmund and the crowd. However, it was Darmstadt who continued to push for an equalizer, coming agonizingly close when Kobel made a world-class save to deny Pfeiffer from close range after a corner. This seemed to be the wake-up call Dortmund needed, and Marcel Sabitzer nearly put the game to bed with a shot that was well parried by Schuhen.
And then, the magic happened. Donyell Malen sent Sancho racing down the right, and the returning winger, in a moment of deja vu, whipped in a pinpoint cross for Marco Reus to tap home. The German maestro could have added a second late on, but Schuhen again denied him. However, the scoring wasn’t over. In stoppage time, Youssoufa Moukoko put the icing on the cake with a delightful solo effort, twisting and turning his defender before rifling the ball off the bar and into the back of the net.
The win is just Dortmund’s second in eight league matches, but it will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they aim to secure a Champions League spot for next season. For Darmstadt, the search for their first Bundesliga victory since October continues, but they can take heart from their spirited performance against a resurgent Dortmund.
Man of the Match: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Reus may not have gotten a brace, but his clinical finish and overall leadership on the pitch were instrumental in Dortmund’s victory. His return to form alongside the electrifying Sancho is a potent combination that could propel Dortmund towards their goals this season.
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