A second half hat-trick by Jadon Sancho fired Borussia Dortmund to a thumping 6-1 victory against bottom feeders SC Paderborn on Sunday evening.
After a rather lacklustre first period, the game burst into life after the half-time break, with Thorgan Hazard breaking the deadlock. Minutes later, Jadon Sancho made it 2-0 for Borussia Dortmund, putting them on the path for a win after a disappointing defeat in midweek.
Paderborn struck back with a penalty from Uwe Hunemeier in the 72nd minute, but Sancho eased any fears of a comeback with his second soon after. Wing-backs Achraf Hakimi and Marcel Schmelzer then added to Dortmund’s tally in the final five minutes, before Sancho completed a memorable hat-trick in stoppage time to add more sheen to the scoreline.
The victory sees Lucien Favre’s side reduce the gap at the top to seven points, after Bayern Munich had registered a resounding win over Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday. And here’s how we rated the performances of the Dortmund stars in a commanding triumph against Paderborn.
Keep fighting boys! ? pic.twitter.com/TKR19PR0ln
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 31, 2020
Roman Burki: 6/10
A pretty straightforward outing for the Swiss shot-stopper, who was hardly tested by Paderborn on the evening. Hunemeier’s penalty was the only time he was called into action, but he failed to stop it despite having gotten his hand to the ball.
Lukasz Piszczek: 7.5/10
The veteran defender had a fairly comfortable outing with the relegation battling home team not threatening much in attack. Solid when he needed to be, finishing the game with four successful tackles and interceptions. Distribution from the back was important in helping Dortmund’s build-up play. Misplaced just three of his 74 attempted passes on the evening.
Mats Hummels: 7/10
Much like Piszczek, Hummels, too, hardly put a foot wrong over the course of the ninety minutes. Solid and steady when called upon, his passing from the back was on point for most of the game. The yellow card in the second half – his fifth of the season – was the only blight in his performance, with the German now set to miss the next game due to suspension.
Manuel Akanji: 6/10
The least impressive of the three central defenders for the Black and Yellows, Akanji looked shaky early on when Christopher Antwi-Adjei ran at him. Improved as the game wore on, though, and it helped that Paderborn didn’t always pose a major threat going forward.
Achraf Hakimi: 7.5/10
Achraf Hakimi has been directly involved in 15 goals this season for Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga:
❍ 5 goals
❍ 10 assistsProvider turned goalscorer. ✨ pic.twitter.com/IxJrBzeiLM
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 31, 2020
The on-loan wing-back was made to work hard in the early stages of the game, but grew comfortable with time and started to make more inroads with his forward forays. Created a fine chance for Julian Brandt towards the end of the first half, but the German failed to make the most of it. Was much livelier after the break and grabbed Dortmund’s fourth of the game with a fine finish. Subbed off soon after.
Emre Can: 7/10
The German international was a steady presence for Dortmund, holding fort in the middle of the park while attempting to make things happen in the attacking sense with incisive passes. Played a key role in Hazard’s opener as it was his cross that the Paderborn keeper pushed right into the Belgian’s feet.
Thomas Delaney: 6.5/10
Did the job defensively, ensuring that the hosts never really caused a lot of danger. However, he failed to offer any sense of creativity from midfield which would have helped Dortmund open up a tight Paderborn defence in the first half. Subbed off for Axel Witsel in the second period.
Raphael Guerreiro: 6.5/10
Came very close to scoring in the first period, but saw his effort blocked by Mohamed Drager. Continued to offer an outlet down the left flank for the visitors, linking up smartly with Brandt in the attacking third. Replaced by Schmelzer for the last ten minutes.
Jadon Sancho: 10/10
Starting his first game since the restart of the 2019/20 campaign, Sancho looked much sharper than he has done in the last three matches. Was involved heavily in almost everything positive that Dortmund conjured up in the attacking third of the pitch. Scored his team’s second with a simple tap-in from six yards.
Jadon Sancho's game by numbers vs. Paderborn:
❍ Most chances created (5)
❍ Joint-most shots (3)
❍ Most shots on target (3)
❍ Most goals (3)
❍ Joint-most take-ons completed (3)Hat-trick hero. pic.twitter.com/4SzealvxdA
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 31, 2020
Shut down any hopes of a Paderborn comeback with a fine finish soon after Hunemeier’s penalty, before completing his hat-trick in stoppage time. Made the most key passes in the game (5), completed the most number of dribbles (3), going onto the show the kind of threat he posed in the final third. Now has 20 goals and assists each for the season in all competitions.
Thorgan Hazard: 8/10
Starting in a central role in the injury-enforced absence of Erling Haaland, the Belgian international was quite a handful for the hosts with his sharp movement. Had a shot saved in the first period, before finally opening the scoring in the second period. Hazard then went on to assist Sancho for his second goal of the evening, rounding off an industrious performance.
[#Bundesliga ??] Thorgan Hazard depuis la reprise :
⚽ ? vs Schalke
? vs Wolfsburg
❌ vs Bayern
⚽ ? vs Paderborn pic.twitter.com/BiH95Uhukd— REDSports (@REDsportsBE) May 31, 2020
Julian Brandt: 7.5/10
Usually the man that unlocks defences for Dortmund, Brandt did not have the best of starts to the match. Missed a fine opportunity in the first period, but his influence grew with time, as he started getting involved in dangerous attacking moves. Got the assist for Sancho’s first of the evening and completed 3 key passes in total, before being subbed off.
Substitutes
Axel Witsel: 7/10
The Belgian came on for Delaney in the 69th minute and there was a marked improvement in Dortmund’s play with him on the field. Added the creative element in midfield that had been missing. Got the assist for Schmelzer’s goal with a fine cross.
Giovanni Reyna: 7/10
The youngster replaced Brandt for the final ten minutes or so. Almost scored a goal, but was denied by some fine work by the opposition goalkeeper.
Marcel Schmelzer: 8/10
His first Bundesliga goal since Septemeber of 2013! ?
A One-Club Legend, we love you, Schmelle! ? pic.twitter.com/E6HBt202PR
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 31, 2020
Came on for Guerreiro in the 80th minute. Marked a rare appearance with a well-taken goal late in the game after having set up Hakimi or Dortmund’s fourth. An impactful cameo from the veteran.
Leonadro Balerdi: N/A
Replaced Can with less than five minutes left.
Mateu Morey: N/A
Late substitute for Hakimi. Made quite the impression with his attacking intent. Got the assist for Sancho’s third goal.
