Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs FC Ingolstadt: Late cameo from 9/10 Hazard; Bellingham gets 8.5

Thorgan Hazard produced a late cameo as Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt in the DFB-Pokal second round on Tuesday.

Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the third round of the DFB Pokal after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over FC Ingolstadt on Tuesday.

It was not a straightforward game for the hosts, though. Especially during the first half, the team struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities, often being forced to play the ball backwards. The lack of intricate movements by the attackers led to a rather easy period of defending for Andre Schubert.

A similar story prevailed in the second half, at least for the first ten minutes, as Dortmund continued to create only a few chances going forward. However, the game changed after the introduction of Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard. Their movements and combination play with the other BVB attackers saw them dominate the game right away.

Just a minute after coming on, Hazard found the breakthrough for Dortmund in the 72nd minute before going on to double his tally nine minutes later. His cameo helped Dortmund secure an easy win in the end, and here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over Die Schwarzgelben in their victory over Ingolstadt.

Marwin Hitz: 6/10

Starting ahead of the injured Gregor Kobel, Marwin Hitz did not have much to do all evening. Ingolstadt, after all, failed to register a single shot on target, leading to a rather easy clean sheet for the Swiss goalkeeper.

Emre Can: 6.5/10

Emre Can started the game roughly, with a couple of rash tackles. He did eventually settle his nerves, offering solidity down the right-hand side of the three-man Dortmund backline. His aggression is always an asset for BVB when the German is not making any individual mistakes.

Mats Hummels: 7.5/10

Mats Hummels showcased his quality with a clinical defensive display. He was composed in possession and a threat from set-pieces. He even scored a goal that the referee ruled out due to a foul by Can. It was, nevertheless, an excellent defensive display from the veteran.

Marin Pongracic: 7.5/10

Watching Marin Pongracic dominate a football match is like watching a knife cut through butter. The Croat was simply clinical with his passing and defensive movement while also showcasing his ability to read the game. He even made some marauding runs forward when Dortmund had possession in the final third.

Thomas Meunier: 7/10

It was pleasing to see Thomas Meunier back in action for Dortmund. The former PSG right-back produced some dangerous crosses early on in the proceedings. However, his game was restricted after he was shown a yellow card, before he was to forced to hobble off around the hour mark.

Axel Witsel: 6/10

Axel Witsel did not do a great deal in the holding midfield role. He was secure in possession but often very slow and passive on the ball. His lack of mobility was one of the key reasons behind Dortmund’s lack of penetration up until the hour mark.

Jude Bellingham: 8.5/10

Jude Bellingham was awarded the MOTM due to his phenomenal display of courage and determination. The Englishman was the most impressive Dortmund player in the first half, creating a plethora of scoring opportunities while beating players at will. Having recently played in an attacking position, the youngster is shining with his chance creation and overall offensive play.

But his performance was not only restricted to attack. He fought hard for his team, even winning turnovers in the middle of the park. Bellingham is not one for the future. He is one for the here and now.

Julian Brandt: 8/10

Julian Brandt had a mixed first half, wherein he was losing possession and misplacing passes. However, the German produced a monstrous performance in the second half, creating several excellent goalscoring opportunities. He even registered the assist for both the goals scored by Hazard, ending the game as one of the star performers for Dortmund.

Marius Wolf: 7.5/10

Marius Wolf put in a valiant shift for Dortmund. He initially started the game at left wing-back, often posing a threat with his offensive play around the byline. He was later shifted to the right, where the former Frankfurt star offered width. Wolf has shown a lot of heart in his performances and certainly deserves more starting opportunities.

Reinier: 7/10

Reinier was anonymous in the first half. He made good movements but was failing to get himself involved in the proceedings. However, the Brazilian looked like a different player after the introduction of Reus and Hazard, showcasing his samba skills and notably registering playing his part in the build-up to the opener.

Stefen Tigges: 5/10

Stefan Tigges was handed a start in the absence of Donyell Malen and Erling Haaland. But the young forward offered very little to the table, struggling to impose himself inside the box. His substitution helped Dortmund dominate the game, with both Reus and Hazard offering more movement in the final third.

SUBSTITUTES

Thorgan Hazard: 9/10

Thorgan Hazard made an immediate impact after coming on around the 70th minute mark. He initially started as a left wing-back but showcased his positioning sense to get on the end of a cross from Brandt and score the opener. The Belgian got his second from another close-range finish later on in the game.

Marco Reus: 7.5/10

Marco Reus was not as involved as Hazard. But the Dortmund captain’s influence, especially in relation to his movement and link-up play, was telling.

Manuel Akanji: N/A

A late replacement for Hummels. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Felix Passlack: N/A

A late replacement for Brandt. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.

Ansgar Knauff: N/A

A late replacement for Wolf. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.