Sancho, Reus and Alcacer sink Leverkusen

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Alcacer (28'), 2-0 Reus (50'), 3-0 Guerreiro (83'), 4-0 Reus (90')

It was the sort of sunny afternoon on which a siesta is welcome, and with Barcelona arriving in midweek for their UEFA Champions League opener, Dortmund appeared happy to snooze their way into the game. Karim Bellarabi, who scored the Bundesliga's fastest goal against BVB three years ago, was alert, and the Germany international twice fired goalwards early on. That was the cue for the hosts to rise from their slumber, and how! A deft Alcacer flick played in Reus — his low drive was brilliantly parried by Lukas Hradecky, who then outdid himself in miraculously halting Julian Brandt's follow-up. When Alcacer met Achraf Hakimi's cross with a crisp sidefoot volley, the Finland international had to admit defeat, however. Hakimi would have added a second but for another Hradecky stop that followed a brave Jonathan Tah block to a Thomas Delaney close-range shot.

Leverkusen ended the first half clinging on, but might have equalised in the opening seconds after the break through half-time substitute Leon Bailey. Bellarabi then fired wide before Leverkusen were quite brilliantly undone: Sancho provided the pass but Alcacer's dummy was also worthy of an assist as it allowed Reus the space and time to steer a shot into the far corner. Bailey headed wide by means of a riposte, but Leverkusen, who had picked up seven of a possible nine points before kick-off under ex-BVB boss Peter Bosz, could find no answer to Dortmund's irrepressible front line. Raphael Guerreiro and Reus gave the scoreline a convincing gloss late on as Lucien Favre's men warmed up for their foray into European competition in ideal style.

• Alcacer has scored in the first four Bundesliga games of the season, a feat only previously achieved by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2015/16).
• Alcacer has scored 10 times in his eight competitive outings this season, netting five times in the Bundesliga.
• Sancho now has a Bundesliga-leading four assists and 18 since the start of the 2018/19 season, more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.
• This was Reus' 100th Bundesliga win in his 167th league appearance for Dortmund.
• This was the first league game this season in which Dortmund have gone in front.
• Favre has seen his side score at least twice in every Bundesliga home game since he took charge in summer 2018.

Dortmund: Bürki - Hakimi, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro - Witsel (Weigl 78'), Delaney - Sancho, Reus (c), Brandt (Hazard 61') - Alcacer (Bruun Larsen 79')
Unused subs: Hitz, Zagadou, Dahoud, Götze, Schmelzer
Out: Morey (shoulder), Schulz (ankle)
Coach: Lucien Favre

Leverkusen: Hradecky - L. Bender (c), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell - Baumgartlinger, Aranguiz (Alario 78') - Bellarabi (Diaby 73'), Havertz, Amiri (Bailey 46') - Volland
Unused subs: Özcan, Retsos, Dragovic, Paulinho, Sinkgraven, Weiser
Out: Pohjanpalo (ankle)
Coach: Peter Bosz