How Did Dortmund Showcase Their Strength in the Champions League Against Athletic Bilbao?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dortmund maintained their unbeaten run with a 4-1 victory.
- Daniel Svensson scored his first Champions League goal.
- Coach Niko Kovac made tactical changes that paid off.
- Resilience in defense was key to preserving the lead.
- Julian Brandt capped off the match with a late goal.
Berlin, Oct 2 (NationPress) Borussia Dortmund continued their impressive unbeaten run across all competitions with a dominant 4-1 win against Athletic Bilbao in their group stage encounter at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
The home side entered the match brimming with confidence, having secured four consecutive league victories, and coach Niko Kovac made five changes to his lineup, welcoming back leading scorer Serhou Guirassy.
Despite the lineup adjustments, Dortmund quickly established their dominance. Athletic, struggling with their form and missing key player Nico Williams due to injury, found it hard to make an impact in the early stages.
Dortmund's initial control paid off in the 28th minute when Karim Adeyemi sent in a precise cross that Daniel Svensson converted for his inaugural Champions League goal. The German team sought more, with Niklas Sule trying his luck from long range, while goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was unchallenged at the other end.
After the break, the momentum persisted. Marcel Sabitzer's diagonal pass broke through the Athletic defense, allowing Guirassy to assist Carney Chukwuemeka, who doubled the lead with a clinical finish in the 50th minute. However, the visitors momentarily threatened a comeback, with a defensive error enabling Gorka Guruzeta to score from close range shortly after the hour mark, reducing the deficit.
Not long after, Robert Navarro found the back of the net, only to be ruled offside, and he came close again. Dortmund managed to withstand the pressure, with Svensson making a crucial clearance off the line to maintain their lead. Relief came in the 82nd minute when Guirassy redirected a Sabitzer shot into the goal for 3-1. Substitute Julian Brandt then capped off the match deep into stoppage time with a precise drive.
“Playing in the Champions League is always a pleasure. Overall, the team performed well. Naturally, I’m pleased with the win. We had a strong first half with plenty of possession. In the second half, we faced some challenges, but our efforts were rewarded,” stated Dortmund defender Daniel Svensson.