myIt was a scene that many Dortmund fans must have experienced firsthand in the stadium: deep pass to the fast Jadon Sancho, precise cross into the middle, goal from Marco Reus. The action in the 77th minute in the Darmstadt stadium at the Böllenfalltor was reminiscent of the 2017 to 2021 seasons, when these two offensive experts last looked for goals together dressed in black and yellow. On Saturday night, the two, Sancho, who was returning, and Reus, a veteran Borussia player, came on together in the 55th minute and 22 minutes later they were decisive in the match.

In the 3-0 victory over Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga, which was more diligent than brilliant, Dortmund did not completely convince, but it was still an “extremely important victory”, as coach Edin Terzic said. Because the distance from fourth place, which allows access to the Champions League, was reduced to three points at the first opportunity of the new year, due to Leipzig's home defeat against Frankfurt. And because Dortmund's personnel decisions in the winter obviously played a role. Among other things, the loan of 23-year-old Sancho, who never had as much influence on the game at Manchester United as in his happy time at Dortmund, and now immediately began to prepare for goals.

“We don't have to talk about Jadon's potential and talent, everyone knows that,” said coach Terzic. “He Now he has experienced the first dent in his career. He showed up at our house with a big smile on his face. And he is one of the players in the world who plays better when he smiles.” In his first spell in Dortmund, the Englishman scored 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games.

Terzic: “It was a good first step”

While the hard-working Sancho stood out for his lack of match practice and connection with the people at his side in some scenes, Ian Ethan Maatsen indicated that he was the expected reliable solution in the left-back position. Terzic had ordered the Dutchman, who had just been loaned from Chelsea a few days ago, directly into the starting eleven, where he gave an agile and confident impression without adaptation difficulties.

“The key was that we didn't allow many chances,” said Terzic, who came under considerable pressure after the unpleasant second half of 2023 with only one win in eight Bundesliga games, and before long Mats Hummels, who was replaced by Emre Can, the central defender, was well represented and had to do without her. “It was a good first step,” said the coach, “no more, no less.”

In the first quarter of an hour at the Böllenfalltor it was not clear who was the favorite and who was the loser. The “Lilien” had many victories and advances against the Westphalians, who needed some time to pick up speed in the January cold. Julian Brandt forced SVD goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen to make his first save (20th). However, four minutes later, the duel between the two ended in favor of the Dortmund offensive player. Because the previously agile newcomer naively failed to stop a run by Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Brandt was able to accurately aim for the far corner of the goal.

Another mistake by Darmstadt, by central defender Matej Maglica, gave Niclas Füllkrug an excellent opportunity to finish, but the national striker hesitated too long to take advantage of it (43'). Dortmund, who were more concerned about playing safely than inspiring, went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

In the 55th minute the moment had arrived: Sancho and Reus entered the South Hesse stage. A little later they gave the BVB fans a déjà vu of their well-known harmony. However, BVB were lucky that the class of their goalkeeper Gregor Kobel prevailed over the lack of killer instinct of Luca Pfeiffer. The SVD attacker was free to head in after a long corner (64'), Kobel reacted strongly and prevented the tie.

As that was the only really dangerous finish from the bottom of the table throughout the season, the Borussia team was on its way from that moment on to a sure away victory. Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko made it 3-0 in added time after an impressive individual performance. A successful start to the year for the Dortmund team, which generally had more characteristics of working by the rules than pure joy of playing.