For the past six seasons, Bayern Munich have been kings of the Bundesliga. But on Saturday, a definitive statement would be made. And not by Bayern — but rather, their opponent. Saturday, unbeaten Borussia Dortmund would host Bayern. And by the end of the contest, their lead atop the table would widen.
Though it didn’t come easy, of course. In fact, Bayern got the scoring underway first with this goal from former BVB striker Robert Lewandowski. A word of advice: don’t give him this much space…
LEWANDOWSKI! ?
He scores his 11th goal in 9 appearances against Dortmund and puts Bayern ahead. pic.twitter.com/AI0AQAWz4B
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 10, 2018
Now, we’re not taking anything away from Serge Granary’s cross; it’s good. But a couple of questions immediately spring to mind. First of all, who’s closing him down? And secondly, you’re really going to just give Lewandowski that header? Goodness gracious. The Bavarian giants took an 0-1 lead into halftime, but it wouldn’t last long after the break. Marco Reus made sure of that.
Reus ties the game for Dortmund!!!
Manuel Neuer commits a penalty and Reus sends it home. pic.twitter.com/Kz68pYeNQu
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 10, 2018
Manuel Neuer will want the timing of that challenge back…but Reus does a masterful job of earning (and converting) the penalty. Just like that, Dortmund found themselves right back in it. The craziness was only just beginning, however. Just a few minutes later, Lewandowski would strike again — this time finding the back of the net for the seventh time this campaign. And for what it’s worth, a better job could’ve been done by goalkeeper Marwin Hitz.
LEWANDOWSKI AGAIN! ? ? pic.twitter.com/Yj8w072rpe
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 10, 2018
Let’s face it — this season’s Roman Bürki probably cleans that up. In Hitz’s defense, though, this is his first Bundesliga action of the season. It’s a pretty tall order to be thrown in there against Bayern. Still, Dortmund had some work to do. And about 15 minutes later, they’d find their second equalizer of the match.
REUS TIES THE GAME FOR DORTMUND!!! ? pic.twitter.com/QQNYppvn5f
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 10, 2018
There goes that man again. With his second goal of the contest, Reus climbs to the top of the Bundesliga leaderboard (8). He’s there with two other players, including a teammate…but we’ll get to that. Eight minutes prior to Reus’ equalizer, super-sub Paco Alcácer made his way onto the pitch. The rest, as they say, is history…
ALCÁCER PUTS DORTMUND AHEAD!
What a counter attack by Dortmund ? pic.twitter.com/BU5QMplxpr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 10, 2018
How’s that for making your mark in your first-ever Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich. That goal was Alcácer’s eighth on the season, which times him with Reus and Alassane Pléa (Borussia Mönchengladbach). More importantly, it gave Dortmund a huge 3-2 victory over Bayern. That means they’re still atop the Bundesliga table After 11 matches, they hold a four-point lead over Lucien Favre’s former team, BMG. More impressively, that gap stands at seven over Bayern.
Favre has been a revelation for Dortmund. Reus is healthy and firing on all cylinders. Alcácer cannot be stopped, especially when he comes off the bench. And after 11 matches, Dortmund sit atop the table on 27 points — with eight wins, three draws and not a single loss.
For BVB, the title dream is real once again.
