Borussia Dortmund 6-0 VfL Wolfsburg: BVB claim big win to keep pressure on Bayern Munich

Jude Bellingham and Karim Adeyemi both scored twice as Borussia Dortmund returned to winning ways to thrash Wolfsburg 6-0 to move one point behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race.

Both sides began brightly but it was BVB who broke the deadlock when the in-form Adeyemi netted with a header from Julian Ryerson’s deflected cross.

The Wolves continued to carve out some decent chances but were punished for not converting them when Adeyemi turned provider to set up Sebastian Haller for a tap in.

And the Yellow Submarine looked to have sewn up victory in the 37th minute when a ball over the top led to Julian Brandt setting up Donyell Malen to stroke the ball in an empty net.

Nico Kovac brought on Kevin Paredes and Kilian Fischer at the break but it did not change a jot as it was all one-way traffic for the hosts.

Bellingham scored the goal of the game with a brilliant run and shot from outside the box which the ‘keeper could only parry onto the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Adeyemi made it 5-0 soon after from close range when Sebastiaan Bornauw gave the ball away in his own area.

The striker had a chance to seal a hat-trick after Bellingham won a penalty but he fired his spot-kick over the bar.

It was Bellingham who had the final say when he grabbed his second with a cool finish from Brandt’s assist as Edin Terzic’s side make amends for last weekend’s dropped points against Bochum.

TALKING POINT – Dortmund’s squad depth on show

Nico Schlotterbeck and Raphael Guerreiro returned from injury but were on the bench as was captain Marco Reus. The likes of Malen and Adeyemi are keeping some of the senior players out of the side. For the first time since 2020 it looks like we have a proper title race with a Dortmund squad capable of winning it.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Jude Bellingham (Dortmund)

The 19-year-old has not let the speculation around a summer switch to Real Madrid affect his form. He was a constant threat with his link-up play, won a penalty and scored with a fine strike from distance and a cool finish in the dying minutes.

PLAYER RATINGS

DORTMUND: Kobel 7, Wolf 7, Sule 7, Hummels 7, Ryerson 8, Bellingham 9, Can 6, Brandt 7, Malen 7, Haller 8, Adeyemi 9. Subs: Reus 5, Moukoko 5, Ozcan 5, Reyna n/a, Passlack n/a.

WOLFSBURG: Casteels 6, Bornauw 4, Guilavogui 4, Van de Ven 5, Baku 6, Arnold 6, Nmecha 5, Kaminski 5, Svanberg 5, Wind 6, Wimmer 6. Subs: Cozza 5, Gerhardt 5, Marmoush 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

14′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! The in-form Adeyemi breaks the deadlock with a header from around 12 yards out which goes into the top corner from Ryerson’s deflected cross.

29′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Adeyemi outpaces Baku and crosses for Haller who taps home from close range.

37′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Malen makes up for that missed chance by stroking the ball into an empty net from Brandt’s square pass after a ball over the top.

54′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! A minute after Haller has a shot charged down, Bellingham is on the scoresheet with a shot from outside the box which the ‘keeper can only parry onto the crossbar and into the back of the net.

59′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Adeyemi with the simplest of finishes from Haller’s pass after Bornauw gives the ball away.

65′ – PENALTY TO DORTMUND! Bellingham is felled in the box. But Adeyemi fires his spit-kick over.

86′ – GOAL FOR DORTMUND! Bellingham coolly slots past the ‘keeper in the box from Brandt’s flick on.

KEY STAT

Karim Adeyemi has scored five goals and provided five assists in the Bundesliga in 2023, no other player has at least five goals and assists in the division this year.