Paco Alcacer's late brace takes Borussia Dortmund back to the top of the Bundesliga
Paco Alcacer's late brace earned Borussia Dortmund a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, taking them back to the top of the Bundesliga a week ahead of Der Klassiker after Bayern Munich were held at Freiburg.
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Alcacer (90+1'), 2-0 Alcacer (90+4')
Minus Marco Reus, whose girlfriend was due to give birth, Dortmund had Alcacer leading the line in front of Raphael Guerreiro - playing for the first time wide on the right - Mario Götze and Jadon Sancho, although the first cheer of the day was provided by news that Bayern Munich had fallen behind at Freiburg. Only when news filtered through that Bayern had levelled did Dortmund try to raise their game, with Alcacer lifting an effort just over. Wout Weghorst went close for the Wolves in a warning which whipped Dortmund into their usual shape, with Dan-Axel Zagadou squandering a free header, although Lucien Favre's men continued to be frustrated by a stern Wolfsburg rearguard.
That frustration could have turned to agony for Dortmund had Josuha Guilavogui done more with a good chance early in the second half for the guests, but Jadon Sancho tried to take matters into his own hands, creating a good opening before testing Koen Casteels himself. Casteels did well to take the sting out of a deflected Thomas Delaney effort as Dortmund stepped up their search for a goal heading into the final 20 minutes. Bruno Labbadia's guests continued to put in a solid shift, but they fell agonisingly short of earning any reward as Alcacer converted a trademark free-kick before supplying a second to snatch all three points, and top spot, for Dortmund.
Match stats
- Dortmund have scored at least twice in all their 14 Bundesliga home games this season. The last time they achieved such a run was in 1980/81 under Udo Lattek.
- Alcacer is the leader in late goals this season, with 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of games.
- Alcacer's four goals from long range is also a league high this term.
- In Dortmund's five games without Reus, they have won three (against Leipzig, Leverkusen and now Wolfsburg) and drawn two (against Nuremberg and Hoffenheim).
- Maximilian Arnold will miss his first game of the season on Matchday 28 after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign.
- Dortmund are the only Bundesliga team yet to lose at home this season. The last team to take all three points away from the Signal Iduna Park were Mainz, who won 2-1 last May.
Line-ups
Dortmund: Bürki – Wolf, Akanji (c), Zagadou, Diallo (Hakimi 49', Bruun Larsen 74') – Witsel, Delaney – Sancho, Götze (Dahoud 81'), Guerreiro – Alcacer
Unused subs: Hitz, Toprak, Schmelzer, Weigl
Out: Philipp (knee), Piszczek (heel), Pulisic (thigh), Reus (compassionate leave)
Coach: Lucien Favre
Wolfsburg: Casteels – William, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon – Gerhardt, Guilavogui (c), Arnold – Mehmedi (Ginczek 81') – Weghorst, Klaus (Steffen 67')
Unused subs: Pervan, Verhaegh, Uduokhai, Rexhbecaj, Brekalo
Out: Camacho (ankle)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
Watch: Witsel: “First child more important than a game of football”
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