Bundesliga
Marco Reus, Jadon Sancho and Thorgan Hazard were all on fine form as Borussia Dortmund hit five past Fortuna Düsseldorf to keep pressure on those around them at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Borussia Dortmund 5-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 1-0 Reus (42'), 2-0 Hazard (58'), 3-0 Sancho (63'), 4-0 Reus (70'), 5-0 Sancho (74')
Lucien Favre kept his tactical set-up the same after last weekend's win at Hertha Berlin with a three-man defence, without the suspended Mats Hummels, and it worked superbly in the first half. The away side were limited to just a single shot in the first half as the all-black charges - sporting a flash new kit to celebrate 110 years of coal and steelwork in the region - dominated. Reus had the first chance after nine minutes, forcing the first save of the day from USMNT No.1 Zack Steffen. Raphael Guerreiro, Achraf Hakimi and Thorgan Hazard all had half-chances as the home side kept control of proceedings with 71 per cent of possession through the opening 45 minutes, and rewarded themselves just before the break. Julian Brandt found Lukasz Piszczek on the edge of the box and his flick through the Fortuna defence matched Reus' run to keep the BVB captain onside. He then duly slotted the ball past Steffen with a composed finish and could have had a second before the break had he and Jadon Sancho made up their minds as to who would take the shot at goal.
Dortmund began the second half as they finished the first, with Dan-Axel Zagadou unleashing a thunderous effort from 30 yards out, which Steffen saved fantastically. Minutes later, the home crowd thought their side had doubled their lead when Reus gave Sancho a chance he couldn't miss, but the BVB captain was offside when played through by Brandt. It wasn't long before Dortmund did extend their advantage, though. Great work from Brandt once again allowed Sancho to play Hazard in on goal down the left, and the Belgium international slotted the ball home off the far post. Five minutes later and Dortmund's lead was three, with Sancho and Reus combining beautifully in the box to set up the Englishman for his fourth game in a row with a goal - the longest run of his professional career. In the space of eleven minutes, Dortmund's lead was 5-0. Reus completed his brace first, squeezing home from Hazard's pass before setting up Sancho to grab his second of the game.
Watch: Reus: "A liberating win"
Dortmund: Bürki – Piszczek (Balerdi 78'), Akanji, Zagadou - Hakimi, Witsel, Brandt (Dahoud 78'), Guerreiro – Sancho, Reus (c) (Götze 73'), Hazard
Unused subs: Hitz, Alcacer, Schulz, Morey, Reyna, Weigl
Out: Bruun Larsen (knee), Delaney (ankle), Hummels (suspended), Schmelzer (calf)
Coach: Lucien Favre
Düsseldorf: Steffen – Zimmermann, Hoffmann, Adams, Gießelmann – Bodzek (c), Morales – Zimmer (Kownacki 59'), Baker (Fink 67'), Thommy (Barkok 67') – Hennings
Unused subs: Kastenmeier, Contento, Ampomah, Bormuth, Tekpetey
Out: Ayhan (suspended), Karaman (pneumonia), Pledl (knee), Rensing (ill), Stöger (cruciate ligament), Suttner (thigh), Sobottka (broken nose)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel
Watch: Sancho: "We have to give the fans what they want to see"