Borussia Dortmund put Saturday's Klassiker defeat behind them in style with a convincing UEFA Champions League win in Copenhagen, thanks to a brace from Felix Nmecha.
Copenhagen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Nmecha 20' (assist: Bellingham), 1-1 Anton (o.g.) 33'. 1-2 Bensebaini (pen.) 61', 1-3 Nmecha 73' (assist: Chukwuemeka), 1-4 Silva 87', 2-4 Daðason 90' (assist: Suzuki)
Dortmund had high hopes of gaining a post-Klassiker boost in Denmark, going into the matchday as the joint-highest scorers in the Champions League (eight goals) against a Copenhagen side struggling for form.
While the hosts did their best to threaten in the opening stages, the Bundesliga outift took control of possession and raced in front with their first effort of the night. Jobe Bellingham laid the ball off on the edge of the box to Nmecha, who shimmied past his marker and dispatched an unstoppable drive in via the crossbar.
As Dortmund increased their grip on the play and Max Beier slipped a shot wide on the left that could have doubled the lead, Copenhagen suddenly struck back. Former Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko hit a shot from a corner that pinged around the area and took an unfortunate deflection off Waldemar Anton and into the net.
The hosts were visibly lifted and had opportunities to snatch the lead in an open end to the first half. As was the case in Saturday's Klassiker, Niko Kovač appeared to find the right words at the break as his charges stepped up a gear after the restart and took the ball forward with purpose.
The chance to regain the lead was presented on the hour mark as Serhou Guirassy was dragged down in the box from a corner, and Ramy Bensebaini gladly stepped up to calmly convert the resulting penalty.
Ramy Bensebaini made no mistake from the penalty spot in the second half. - IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn
There was no way back for Copenhagen this time as Dortmund continued to attack, and Bellingham went close to getting his first goal for the club with a rasping drive that was well saved.
Nmecha then completed his brace after receiving a pass from substitute Carney Chukwuemeka, before Fábio Silva stroked in his first goal for the club.
Dortmund shrugged off a late consolation to put themselves in a healthy position by claiming their second win of the league phase and moving onto seven points after three matches.
Match stats
- This is Dortmund’s 200th match in the European Cup/Champions League. They are only the second German team to reach the landmark after Bayern, who are set to make their 411th appearance in the competition on Wednesday.
- Borussia have netted four goals in three successive Champions League matches.
- Dortmund have lost only one of their last ten Champions League matches (W6 D3).
- Bellingham recorded his first assist Champions League in a Dortmund jersey tonight.
- Nmecha has scored three of his four goals this season so far in the Champions League.
- Bensebaini's last four goals have all come in the Champions League.
Teams
Copenhagen: Kotarski - Suzuki, Gabriel Pereira, Hatzidiakos (Garananga 75'), Meling (Lopez 63') - Larsson (Daðason 75'), Lerager, Clem (Zague 81'), Achouri (Madsen 81') - Moukoko, Claesson (c)
Unused subs: Rúnarsson, Buur, Sarapata
Out: Elyounoussi (unspecified), Delaney (knock), Cornelius (unspecified), Højer (fitness), Moalem (fitness), Mattsson (knee), Huescas (knee)
Coach: Jacob Neestrup
Dortmund: Kobel - Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (Anselmino 85') - Couto (Ryerson 62'), Bellingham, Nmecha (Sabitzer 77'), Svensson - Beier (Silva 62'), Brandt (c) (Chukwuemeka 62') - Guirassy
Unused subs: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Groß, Sabitzer, Süle, Adeyemi
Out: Can (groin), Duranville (shoulder)
Coach: Niko Kovač
As it happened!
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Full-time: Copenhagen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund
Another brilliant Champions League performance from Dortmund, who stepped up after the break to put the result beyond any doubt by netting four goals for the third successive game in the league phase!
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn
Full-time
The hosts have a goal back
A late consolation for Copenhagen as youngster Dadason heads on target and Kobel can't prevent the effort from going over the line.
Silva makes it four!
Dortmund are rampant now! Bellingham surges into the box, and the ball loops forward via a defender for Fabio Silva to stroke his first goal for the club in!
Late change
Young Argentinian Anselmino comes on with Copenhagen showing little sign of attacking intent.
Dortmund keep coming
Carney Chukwuemeka slaloms in the box and has a shot deflected behind as the Black and Yellows push for a fourth.
Nmecha makes sure of it!
Copenhagen give the ball away, and Carney Chukwuemeka turns it out to Felix Nmecha on the right, whose shot trickles past the outstretched legs of the Copenhagen goalkeeper to complete his brace!
Bellingham blaster
Dortmund are pushing for a third. Guirassy drags the ball back just outside the box, and Jobe Bellingham hits a mighty drive that forces a leaping save from the Copenhagen goalkeeper.
Couple of Copenhagen penalty appeals
Twice within a few minutes, the hosts want a penalty, with the latest incident seeing Bensebaini challenge Moukoko, but nothing is given.
Guirassy goes close
He hasn't offered much threat so far, but give him an inch and he will take it! Serhou Guirassy smashes a dangerous drive in from the edge of the box that zips just wide.
Triple change
Kovač shuffles his pack with three fresh players charged with turning this lead into three valuable away points.
Bensebaini sends Dortmund back in front!
The referee points to the spot after Serhou Guirassy was manhandled from a corner, and Bensebaini steps up to calmly send the goalkeeper the wrong way and restore the lead!
Penalty to Dortmund!
A chance to take the lead...
Couto almost curls one in
Yan Couto plays a cross/shot towards the far post that the Copenhagen goalkeeper has to leap to punch behind.
Here come Copenhagen
Claesson almost picks out Suzuki in a promising position at the end of a sweeping move as the hosts have another good little spell.
Bensebaini denies Moukoko
Bensebaini puts in an immaculate sliding challenge to sweep the ball away from Moukoko in the area and out for a corner.
Creative pinch
Dortmund are again in near total charge of possession in the second period, but that has not yet led to many chances. Dortmund looking to dominate
The visitors are taking the ball forward with more purpose than we saw for most of the first period, but Copenhagen are sitting back and defending well.
Off we go again
Can Dortmund regain the initiative?
Kick-off!
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Half-time: Copenhagen 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund looked to have worked their way into command of the tie briefly after Felix Nmecha's fine opening goal, but Copenhagen have shown great spirit and after their fortunate equaliser have given the Bundesliga side a very good game. All to play for!
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn
Half-time
One for the neutrals
Both sides are really pushing forward whenever they get the chance now, as this game remains on a tightrope. We are due two minutes of first-half stoppage time.
Moukoko has a go
The former Dortmund youngster looks fired up and takes aim from the edge of the box, forcing Kobel to dive down and smother it.
Dortmund corner
The hosts' little spell of pressure is over, and Yan Couto takes a corner from the left that is fizzed dangerously towards Bensebaini, who can't connect at the far post.
Pair of chances for Copenhagen
You can feel the confidence boost that the hosts have gained from the equaliser, as they race forward now and Lerager lashes over before Suzuki drags a shot just wide on the right.
Copenhagen level!
Against the run of play, Dortmund are knocked back on level terms as Moukoko takes a shot against his former side from a corner and the ball takes a couple of deflections straight in front of Kobel, the last of which sees Anton accidentally turn it into his own net.
Beier almost doubles the lead!
Felix Nmecha almost turns supplier by punching a ball through the defence that Beier races to meet on the left and just clips the wrong side of the target.
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Happy to play the waiting game
Dortmund are pinging the ball around with relative ease now as they switch the play and look for holes in the hosts' defence.
© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Marcel von Fehrn
Dortmund bossing the ball
The Bundesliga outfit have controlled possession so far and are looking even more comfortable after taking the lead. Nmecha smashes Dortmund in front!
Dortmund take the lead with a quality goal! It's laid off by Jobe Bellingham to Felix Nmecha on the edge of the box, and the midfielder takes the ball around his marker with a deft touch before hammering it in via the crossbar.
Copenhagen free-kick
Beier pushes Moukoko to concede a free-kick 25 yards out, but Dortmund's wall blocks the resulting shot.
Couto forces a corner
Great pressure from the Brazilian to harangue Achouri by the touchline and force him into a poor pass across his area that leads to a corner. Daniel Svensson whips it in, but the hosts can deal with it.
Better from Dortmund
Daniel Svensson turns it forward to Beier, who is felled by a sliding tackle on the left, but the referee deems it a fair challenge. Couto tucks the ball into the area from the right a minute later, but the hosts can clear.
Kobel called into action
Copenhagen combine well after Bellingham fouls Moukoko in midfield to concede a free-kick. The ball gets worked to Claesson around the edge of the area, and the captain drills a shot in that Kobel saves.
Early endeavours
Brandt and Beier link up around the edge of the box as Dortmund seek to put their stamp on proceedings from the start, but a ball into the area is blocked.
We're off!
The hosts kick off on a noisy night at the Parken Stadium.
Kick-off!
Injury crisis for hosts
Former Dortmund midfielder Thomas Delaney is one of seven injured Copenhagen players - all of whom would have been in contention to start if fit.
Another big European night for Bellingham
The summer signing from Sunderland is making his fourth start for Dortmund tonight and first since Matchday 2 in the Champions League at home to Athletic Club at the start of October.
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More on those teams
Niko Kovač makes five changes while keeping a strong Dortmund starting line-up. Jobe Bellingham (pictured) starts in central midfield while Couto, Beier and Brandt are also included. Svensson, Groß, Sabitzer and Adeyemi drop to the bench, and Bensebaini comes into the back three instead of Süle. The big news for Copenhagen is that Youssoufa Moukoko starts against his former side.
© DFL/Getty Images/Daniel Kopatsch
Copenhagen starting XI
Kotarski - Suzuki, Gabriel Pereira, Hatzidiakos, Meling - Larsson, Lerager, Clem, Achouri - Moukoko, Claesson (c)
Copenhagen subs
Rúnarsson, Buur, Garananga, Lopez, Madsen, Zague, Sarapata, Daðason
Dortmund starting XI
Kobel - Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Couto, Bellingham, Nmecha, Svensson - Beier, Brandt (c) - Guirassy
Dortmund subs
Ostrzinski, Meyer, Groß, Chukwuemeka, Sabitzer, Silva, Süle, Ryerson, Adeyemi, Anselmino
Watch: Kovač on Moukoko and more
Niko Kovač also spoke about Copenhagen's Youssoufa Moukoko, who made history in his teen years with Dortmund, during his pre-match press conference.
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Jacob Neestrup on facing Dortmund
"They have some really talented offensive players and are good at both breaking teams down and transitions. They have a good passing game, they take long shots, they have their combination play, so they're quite a difficult team to analyse because there are many things that need to be shut down. If we are to succeed tomorrow, we must be strong together on the ball, when we have our periods."
© IMAGO/Liselotte Sabroe
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Niko Kovač on possible squad rotation
“Five of our next six games are away games. That means we'll be traveling a lot, of course. I'll definitely be making changes here and there. I'm not giving anything away about tomorrow, but everyone will definitely get their chance at this stage.”
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl
Niko Kovač on the importance of taking all three points
“We want to score points here tomorrow and climb as high as possible in the table. After this, we have to go to Manchester, where it won't be any easier. Ultimately, we'd like to avoid the play-off round and two additional games.”
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Niko Kovač on facing injury hit Copenhagen
"When you know all the players who are playing, it's usually a bit easier. But all the players playing in Copenhagen are good enough to replace the injured players. Sometimes it's even more difficult because they have additional motivation, because they want to show the coach that they can be counted on. We want to concentrate on our game and score points against a very serious opponent."
© Sebastian Widmann/Bundesliga
Chance to bounce back?
Dortmund tasted a bitter 2-1 away defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker at the weekend, though they were dominant for most of the second half. Such a result is bound to cut deep and so Die Schwarzgelben are no doubt desperate to get back to winning ways in Denmark.
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Not quite
Copenhagen went within a stoppage-time own goal of beating Leverkusen in the opening matchday in September. Last spring they were knocked out of the UEFA Conference League by Bundesliga opposition, meanwhile, as Heidenheim triumphed 4-3 on aggregate in the knockout phase play-offs.
© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images
Serhou time?
The win against Athletic Bilbao saw Serhou Guirassy get his first goal of this season's league phase. Having finished last season's Champions League as joint top scorer with 13 strikes, he will fancy his chances of pressing on in Copenhagen.
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Dortmund goal machine
Only Bayern have managed to match Dortmund's fantastic haul of eight goals from their opening two league phase encounters. Last season, only one of the other 35 participants beat their total of 22 from 10 matches - Barcelona.
© INA FASSBENDER
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Contrasting fortunes
After their 4-4 thriller at Juventus, Dortmund's superb 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Matchday 2 moved them up to seventh in the nascent league phase table, while Copenhagen's disappointing 2-0 defeat at Qarabağ saw them slip down to 28th. The Danes drew with Bayer Leverkusen in their opening fixture.
© Maja Hitij
Welcome along!
Hello, and thank you for joining us for live build-up and coverage of Borussia Dortmund's UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 encounter away at Copenhagen this Tuesday.
