Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs Arminia Bielefeld: 9/10 Bellingham scores wonder goal; Malen gets 6

Mats Hummels and Jude Bellingham scored wondergoals as Borussia Dortmund securte a 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld.

Borussia Dortmund continued their push for the Bundesliga title as they secure a comfortable 3-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld this weekend. The victory helps them remain just a point below table-toppers Bayern Munich in the league standings, as we head towards the quarter of the campaign.

It was a fairly comfortable outing for the Black and Yellows, who were heading into this game on the back of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Ajax. And despite missing out on a plethora of first-team stars, Dortmund managed to dominate their opposition, even scoring the opener in the 31st minute through an Emre Can penalty.

The visitors then doubled their lead just before half-time, through an excellent volley from Mats Hummels. The second goal gave Dortmund a much-needed cushion that was crucial in helping them remain on top throughout the remainder of the proceedings.

Marco Rose’s men were able to further add to their tally in the 72nd minute, as Jude Bellingham scored a magnificent solo effort to find the back of the net. But just when the team was cruising to their first clean sheet in the Bundesliga campaign, Hummels conceded a late penalty, allowing Arminia to find a consolation goal through Fabian Klos.

Here, at the Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over the Borussia Dortmund players in their comfortable win this weekend.

Gregor Kobel: 7.5/10

Gregor Kobel made one outstanding save to deny Janni Serra a goal in the first half. Unfortunately, the Swiss international hurt himself while doing so, which cut his game short as he made way for Marwin Hitz at half-time.

Manuel Akanji: 7.5/10

Manuel Akanji produced another defensive display at the heart of the Dortmund backline. He was spot on with his tackles and continues to grow with confidence. He wasn’t afraid to be more direct with his passes either, capping off a clinical performance.

Marin Pongracic: 7/10

Marin Pongracic made a grave error that led to the chance for Serra. He did look rusty, especially during the first phase of the game. But the on-loan Wolfsburg defender made up for it with his sound defending and confident tackling. He is a satisfying defender to watch.

Mats Hummels: 8/10

Mats Hummels produced a sumptuous finish to score Dortmund’s second goal of the afternoon, just before half-time. His passing game was also on-point and the German used his experience well to lead the BVB backline. Unfortunately, he was beaten all ends up in 1v1 situations, as he eventually conceded a late penalty.

Marius Wolf: 7.5/10

Marius Wolf made a solid impression with his hard-working display on the right hand side. Replacing Thomas Meunier, the former Frankfurt star constantly bombarded the flask and established himself as a passing outlet for the attackers going forward. He also attempted crosses to find the forwards inside the box, and is clearly starting to make his presence felt in the team.

Emre Can: 8/10

Emre Can enjoyed one of his best performances in a Dortmund shirt as he took complete control of midfield. The former Liverpool man looked extremely confident with his passing, ball distribution and forward play. Also showcased impressive composure to calmly convert the penalty in the first-half.

Jude Bellingham: 9/10

Jude Bellingham had a rusty start to the game but eventually settled in. His aggression and tenacity were always a bonus in Dortmund’s second line of press. But it was his offensive play that caught the attention, as the Englishman linked extremely well with the likes of Marco Reus and Julian Brandt.

Furthermore, Bellingham showcased his versatility by operating in several midfield positions. But the brightest moment of his performance came in the 72nd minute when the youngster beat four defenders to score one of the best goals in the Bundesliga this season.

Thorgan Hazard: 7/10

Thorgan Hazard was deputising for the injured Raphael Guerreiro. He didn’t offer a great deal of threat going forward, but his versatility was always a bonus in Rose’s tactical setup.

Julian Brandt: 7.5/10

Julian Brandt enjoyed a good game in central midfield against Bielefeld. The former Leverkusen starlet can be frustrating at times, but the playmaker showcased a lot of quality with his combination play and created multiple chances for his team. Dortmund will be hoping that Brandt maintains his form in the coming weeks.

Marco Reus: 7.5/10

Marco Reus missed a golden opportunity to further extend Dortmund’s tally in the second half and was certainly not the best player on the pitch. However, the experienced German forward offered a lot of work-rate in the final third and was central to Dortmund’s quick-passing game that led to a plethora of chances for the away side.

Donyell Malen: 6/10

Donyell Malen was one of the few disappointing performers for Borussia Dortmund, in this Bielefeld game. The Dutchman essentially offered nothing much to the table, often struggling to link up with teammates while his defensive work rate was fairly low. Not a good sign for Dortmund, as the attacker continues to struggle in the Bundesliga.

SUBSTITUTES

Marwin Hitz: 7.5/10

Marwin Hitz replaced the injured Kobel at the start of the second half. Looked rusty at the beginning but made a crucial save to deny Arminia Bielefeld later on. Deserved a clean sheet.

Stefen Tigges: 6/10

Stefen Tigges was anonymous after replacing Malen during the midway point of the second half. His lack of pace makes him quite ineffective going forward, especially at this level of football.

Axel Witsel: 5/10

Axel Witsel’s lack of mobility once again allowed Arminia Bielefeld the opportunity to make a late push for the goals.

Reinier: 6/10

Reinier didn’t offer much to the table either, other than being an outlet on the counter.

Lennard Maloney: N/A

Lennard Maloney made his Bundesliga debut when he replaced Hummels late in the game. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.