Borussia Dortmund Player Ratings vs Besiktas: 9/10 Reus bags a brace; Haaland, Bellingham get 8.5 or more

Erling Haaland bagged a brace once again as Borussia Dortmund secured a 5-0 win over Besiktas in the UEFA Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund signed off their UEFA Champions League campaign on a positive note, securing a 5-0 win over Besiktas on Tuesday. The convincing victory was not enough to grant them second place in Group C, but they can exit the competition with high spirits and gear up for the Europa League challenge during the second half of the campaign.

It was a straightforward game for the Bundesliga giants, who looked by far the better team up against a Besiktas side that looked dejected, to say the least. The visitors indeed looked very disorganised, both offensively and defensively, thus leading to an intense start from Dortmund, who scored the opener in the 29th minute through Donyell Malen.

While Besiktas did well to contain the pressure afterwards, a poor foul from Welinton saw them concede a penalty just before the stroke of half-time. The Turkish giants were not helped by a harsh bit of refereeing that saw the defender get directly sent off due to a red card while Marco Reus converted the spot-kick to make it 2-0.

The dismissal of Welinton made the job way too easy for Dortmund in the second half, with Reus netting the third with a truly magical effort in the 53rd minute. It was followed by the substitution of Erling Haaland, who came in and scored a quickfire brace to add more gloss to the scoreline. Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will rank the Borussia Dortmund players in their win over Besiktas this midweek.

Gregor Kobel: 6/10

Gregor Kobel had the quietest game of his short stint at Borussia Dortmund so far. It would certainly make him a relieved man, given how much he has been worked, throughout the course of the campaign.

Thomas Meunier: 6.5/10

Thomas Meunier remained solid at right-back, passing the ball well and expertly evading the opposition press. The Belgian has truly become a more reliable figure at Dortmund after a disastrous debut season in Germany last term. He was subbed off at half-time.

Mats Hummels: 7.5/10

Mats Hummels fared well at the heart of the Dortmund defence after a horrid display against Bayern Munich at the weekend. The veteran was firm in his tackles while using his game-reading abilities to neutralise multiple counter-attacking chances for Besiktas.

Dan-Axel Zagadou: 7/10

Dan-Axel Zagadou made a nervy start to the game when he almost fouled a Besiktas attacker inside the box. But he settled into the match very quickly afterwards, using his body well to keep a lid on the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Cyle Larin. With Manuel Akanji out injured, the Frenchman could be a vital part of the Dortmund backline now.

Nico Schulz: 8/10

Often a derided figure in the Dortmund camp, Nico Schulz put in an excellent shift at left-back. He exhibited his pace and athleticism to remain on top of Kenan Karaman. Offensively, the left-back made some good runs forward while his second-half cross led to Erling Haaland’s first goal of the night.

Axel Witsel: 7.5/10

Replacing the suspended Emre Can in the holding midfield role, Axel Witsel performed well in the middle of the park. He was very secure in possession, while his positional sense made it easier for Dortmund to dominate the game. But the experienced Belgian needs to replicate these performances in the Bundesliga, which he rarely does.

Jude Bellingham: 8.5/10

Jude Bellingham was by far Dortmund’s best player in the first half. He bossed the midfield with his energy and determination, but it was his technical skill that allowed him to run rings around the Besiktas defence. The Englishman notably registered the crucial assist for Malen’s opener. He was also involved in the build-up play in the majority of Dortmund’s goals this evening.

Mahmoud Dahoud: 8.5/10

Mahmoud Dahoud was another difference-maker for Borussia Dortmund in the middle of the park. His silky footwork and ability to drift past defenders made it easier for him to evade the Besiktas press. More importantly, he was a vital cog in the creative side of things, notably registering two assists on the night.

Marius Wolf: 5/10

Marius Wolf was one of the few players who were unable to make an impression against Besiktas. He looked off-colour and was not on the same wavelength as some of his attacking teammates. In the second half, Marco Rose made the wise move of shifting him into a more withdrawn role by subbing off Meunier.

Donyell Malen: 6.5/10

Donyell Malen continued his scoring streak by netting the all-important opener. But apart from that, the Dutchman did not really offer much in the creative side of things. He also looked a bit off with his productivity and needs to rectify the weak points of his game. Right now, there are many.

Marco Reus: 9/10

Marco Reus rolled back the years with a majestic performance in the final third. It was the old, dynamic version of Reus on show, as the German was willing to take on defenders and make mazy runs into the opposition box. It paid off as well, with the Dortmund captain netting the second goal via a penalty before scoring one of the best goals in the Champions League this season in the second half.

SUBSTITUTES

Reinier Jesus: 7/10

Reinier offered the numerical superiority for Dortmund in the final third. He was not directly involved in any of the goals, but his presence helped the hosts dominate the opposition in the second half.

Erling Haaland: 8/10

Erling Haaland made his much-awaited return to the Champions League around the hour mark. And just a few minutes after his introduction, the Norwegian netted Dortmund’s fourth before eventually bagging a brace that extends his goalscoring tally in the Champions League to 23.

Felix Passlack: 6/10

Felix Passlack offered good service on the right during the final thirty minutes. It was nothing extraordinary, though.

Raphael Guerreiro: N/A

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

Marin Pongracic: N/A

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