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Not the elders: Erling Haaland (20, from right), Giovanni Reyna (17) and Jude Bellingham (17)
Photo:
Bernd Thissen / AP
Borussia Dortmund has won its opening game of the Bundesliga season: In the duel between Borussia, Dortmund won 3-0 (1-0) against Mönchengladbach.
The goals were scored by Giovanni Reyna (17 years old, 35th minute) and Erling Haaland (20 years old, 54th, penalty, 77th).
With two A-youngsters in the starting line-up, Reyna and summer entry Jude Bellingham, both 17 years old, BVB seldom gave up control of the game.
The two youngsters were considered the winners of the summer preparation before the game - and confirmed the strong impression.
Gladbach again had major injury problems: In addition to midfielder Denis Zakaria, three potential regulars were missing from the starting line-up with the injured Breel Embolo and the ailing Alassane Pléa and Marcus Thuram.
Nevertheless, Gladbach was the first team in the game to be really dangerous: After a one-two with summer signing Hannes Wolf, ex-Dortmund's Jonas Hofmann failed from close range due to Roman Bürki's foot defense, who then cleared the ball in front of Florian Neuhaus, who was ready to shoot (32nd).
Dortmund could have won higher
Apparently the Dortmunders needed this moment of shock, because only a few minutes later the runner-up took the lead.
After a cross from the advanced Emre Cans, who played the right central defender in the back three, chaos broke out in the Gladbach penalty area.
Bellingham was mentally the fastest and hung up for Reyna, who completed the far corner (35th).
Gladbach didn't really have promising chances.
Instead, Dortmund missed an earlier higher lead (both 55th) through Sancho (42nd), Reyna and Felix Passlack, who replaced the injured Thorgan Hazard.
Passlack's dusting rescued Matthias Ginter on the line.
A Dortmund win in 2020 also includes the fact that Haaland scores: After a foul by Ramy Bensebaini on Reyna, he scored from the penalty spot (54th) after he had previously agreed with Jadon Sancho to be allowed to shoot.
The second Haaland goal followed a switch situation and a strong sprint by 20-year-old Sancho (77th).
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