Hazard leads BVB past Wolfsburg

Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Hazard (52'), 2-0 Guerreiro (58'), 3-0 Götze (pen. 88')

Lucien Favre's rotated side made a bright start against the Bundesliga's best defence, with captain Marco Reus and two-goal DFB Cup hero Julian Brandt working the Wolfsburg backline. But their joy was short-lived as Reus had to be substituted just short of the half-hour mark, limping off with an injury to his left foot. The away side had the better of the chances in the opening period and came closest to the opening goal when Lukas Nmecha hit the crossbar, having chipped Marwin Hitz from a tight angle. Wolfsburg ended the half on top and almost found the net just before the break; John Brooks met a corner and glanced the ball to the back post where Jeffery Bruma was waiting, but the defender was unable to find the net.

The home side came out all guns blazing in the second half and quickly took control of the game, with Hazard opening the scoring on 52 minutes. The Belgian was picked out by Achraf Hakimi and he found the bottom corner of the Wolfsburg net from the edge of the box. Six minutes later the advantage was doubled, with Hazard involved once again and turning provider this time. His pass to the overlapping Raphael Guerreiro was ideal and the Portuguese wing-back fired the ball across Pavao Pervan into the bottom corner. Chances came and went for Mahmoud Dahoud and Hakimi to add a third, while Wolfsburg continued to look for an opening on the counter - but it was eventually Mario Götze who finished the job for BVB from the penalty spot. There was even time for Paco Alcacer to come on for his first appearance since Matchday 6 as Favre's side climbed to second in the table behind Borussia Mönchengladbach.

• Hazard scored his first competitive goal for Dortmund.
• Borussia have scored in each of their last 30 Bundesliga home games – a club record – since a goalless draw against the Wolves in January 2018.
• BVB are now unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga matches against Wolfsburg (W8, D1) since a 2-1 defeat at the Volkswagen Arena in May 2015. They haven't lost to the Wolves at the Signal Iduna Park since December 2012 (3-2).
• Guerreiro scored his second goal of the season, matching his total for the whole of last season.
• Lukasz Piszczek made his 300th appearance for Dortmund.
• Wolfsburg suffered their first defeat of the season, falling one short of equalling their club record for an unbeaten start in the Bundesliga. They went 10 games without loss at the beginning of 2008/09 and 2014/15, finishing as champions and runners-up respectively.

Watch: Witsel: "I told Hazard to celebrate with me"

Dortmund: Hitz – Piszczek, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro – Weigl, Dahoud (Witsel 70') – Hazard, Reus (c) (Götze 28'), Hakimi – Brandt (Alcacer 89')
Unused subs: Bürki, Zagadou, Delaney, Sancho, Schulz, Bruun Larsen
Out: Schmelzer (groin)
Coach: Lucien Favre

Wolfsburg: Pervan – Tisserand (Brekalo 79'), Bruma, Brooks – William, Guilavogui (c), Arnold, Roussillon (Steffen 89') – Victor, Nmecha (Klaus 66') – Weghorst
Unused subs: Menzel, Malli, Gerhardt, Mbabu, Knoche, Rexhbecaj
Out: Camacho (ankle), Casteels (match fitness), Ginczek (back), Schlager (ankle)
Coach: Oliver Glasner