Objectives from Jamie Gittens, Ramy Bensebaini and Serhou Guirassy took Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb within the Champions League on Wednesday.
English winger Gittens opened the scoring with a shocking long-range solo effort earlier than half-time, taking pictures in from the sting of the field.
Bensebaini headed in a Pascal Gross nook early within the second half and Guirassy got here off the bench so as to add a 3rd late, sealing the outcome.
The win, Dortmund’s first away victory in any competitors since September, despatched them into the highest 4 and all however sealed a minimum of a spot within the knockout rounds.
“We did rather well and did not let many possibilities in. We have been very dominant with the ball — it was a extremely good sport from us,” Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel informed DAZN.
“We’re simply completely happy,” mentioned defender Nico Schlotterbeck, “we gained in Zagreb and we had the entire sport below management. Issues are going properly.”
One concern for Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin will likely be Julian Brandt’s health forward of Saturday’s sport towards Bayern Munich.
“It will be an enormous battle. We all know what Bayern can do, they’re sturdy, however we all know what we are able to do as properly,” Kobel mentioned.
“If we give every little thing, we are able to attempt to get the utmost out of it.”
The midfielder, captaining the facet with Emre Can on the bench, was changed after limping off earlier than half-time with a reported thigh damage.
Zagreb had rebounded within the Champions League after a gap spherical 9-2 thrashing by the hands of Dortmund’s German rivals Bayern, profitable two and drawing one other to climb into the knockout locations.
– Dortmund halt away struggles –
The house followers welcomed final season’s Champions League finalists with loud fireworks in a stadium nonetheless displaying scars of a 2020 earthquake, with its capability lowered by 14,000 as a consequence of fears of collapse.
The guests, on a run of six right away losses in all competitions, took some time to get began, Zagreb’s Ronael Pierre-Gabriel blasting simply over the bar on the counter and startling Dortmund into life.
Donyell Malen hit the crossbar after 28 minutes. Gittens discovered Malen unmarked and one-on-one with the goalkeeper within the forty first minute however the Dutchman headed extensive.
Seconds later, Gittens took issues into his personal fingers, dribbling previous three defenders to offer himself house earlier than unleashing an excellent dipping strike into the highest proper nook.
Nonetheless simply 20, the purpose was Gittens’ fourth in his fifth Champions League sport this marketing campaign.
Gross discovered Bensebaini from a nook simply after half-time for Dortmund’s second, the Algerian standing tall and heading previous the Zagreb keeper.
With one eye on Saturday’s conflict with Bayern, Sahin made three adjustments with half an hour remaining, together with bringing on Guirassy as he returned from sickness.
The Guinean confirmed glorious contact to seal the match with a purpose within the closing minute, to match Gittens’ tally of 4 in 5 Champions League video games.
Dortmund have now gained 4 of 5 outings within the Champions League, aside from their 5-2 humbling within the Champions League closing rematch towards Actual Madrid in October.
dwi/mw
