Serhou Guirassy shines as Borussia Dortmund take commanding win over Villarreal

Borussia Dortmund gained another superb UEFA Champions League home win as they made light work of 10-man Villarreal, with two Serhou Guirassy strikes putting them on the way to a big three points.

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal
Goals: 1-0 Guirassy 45+2’ (assist: Anselmino), 2-0 Guirassy 54′, 3-0 Adeyemi 58′, 4-0 Svensson 90+5′ (assist: Groß)
Red card: Foyth 53′
Missed pens: Guirassy 53′, Silva 82′

Niko Kovač’s Dortmund sought to stamp their authority on the encounter in the opening minutes, but the visitors with the joint-best defensive record in Spain sat back and aimed to frustrate the Black-Yellows. 

The plan worked initially, with Dortmund unable to convert their early possession into chances, and Tajon Buchanan putting the ball into the net for Villarreal – only for it to be ruled out for a clear offside.

A Marcel Sabitzer shot from distance was the closest the hosts got to an early breakthrough, while the visitors looked increasingly comfortable as the period progressed and had opportunities to break the deadlock via Buchanan and two chances for Pape Gueye.

Marcel Sabitzer had Dortmund’s first effort on target. – IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

Then up popped Guirassy to scramble the ball into the net with his head after Waldemar Anton took it down from a corner and Aarón Anselmino flicked it airwards.

A few minutes after the restart, a red card for Juan Foyth for a handball on the goal line proved to be a decisive moment – especially after Guirassy tucked the ball in on the rebound after his penalty was saved.

Karim Adeyemi then charged through the dejected Villarreal defence to rub salt into their wounds as an attempted clearance looped off him and into the net for a third. 

Karim Adeyemi scored his 15th goal in the UEFA Champions League. – INA FASSBENDER

Dortmund were then content to ease up and see the comfortable lead towards the full-time mark. After substitute Fabio Silva missed a chance to make it four from the spot when Adeyemi was bundled down, Daniel Svensson slammed home a cross from Pascal Groß with his head to add the final touch.

The win sees Dortmund move to a solid 10 points after five league-phase matches, keeping them firmly in contention to progress to the knockouts with three rounds of fixtures remaining.

Stats

• Dortmund have now lost only two of their last 15 UEFA competition home matches against Spanish clubs (W9 D4).
• Only Erling Haaland has ever scored more goals than Guirassy in his first 23 Champions League appearances (18).  
• Anselmino registered his first goal involvement for Dortmund in his seventh appearance.
• The Black-Yellows now have 352 goals in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League.
• Borussia have lost only one of their last 20 Champions League matches at home (W13, D6).
• Villarreal are now without a win in their last eight matches in the Champions League proper (D2, L6).

Teams

Dortmund: Kobel – Anton (Can 84′), Anselmino, Schlotterbeck (c) – Couto, Sabitzer (Bellingham 77′), Nmecha (Groß 77′), Svensson – Adeyemi, Brandt (Chukwuemeka 68′) – Guirassy (Silva 68′)
Unused subs: Ostrzinski, Meyer, Bensebaini, Duranville, Ryerson, Campbell, Mane
Out: Süle (toe)
Coach: Niko Kovač

Villarreal: Júnior – Mouriño (Navarro 83′), Foyth (c), Veiga, Cardona – Comesaña (Parejo 75′), Gueye, Partey (Marin 65′), Buchanan (Akhomach 83′) – Pépé (Moleiro 65′), Oluwaseyi
Unused subs: Tenas, Altimira, Solomon, G. Moreno, Mikautadze, Ayoze Pérez, Pedraza
Out: Kambwala (hamstring), Cabanes (knee), Costa (knee)
Coach: Marcelino

As it happened!

Full-time: Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal

The second half was much improved from BVB as they made the most of Foyth’s red card to add three second-half goals. Villarreal certainly had their moments in the first half, but that Guirassy goal just before the break, followed by the red card, rather killed off any hope. The result sees Dortmund climb the table to fourth for the time being, and looking good for qualification.

© Christof Koepsel

Full-time

Svensson makes it 4-0!

Groß is afforded far too much space on the right, and he picks out Svensson with a superb cross that the Swede heads home.

© INA FASSBENDER

Good effort

Dortmund work the ball forward to Couto, who skips past a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before firing narrowly wide.

Added time

There are going to be five minutes added on at the end of this one.

The turning point

This penalty and resulting red card has had a huge impact on this match. It very much turned the game in Dortmund’s favour.

© IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

Silva hits the bar

The Dortmund substitute goes for power from the spot and hits the crossbar. It remains 3-0.

© Christof Koepsel

Penalty for Dortmund

Adeyemi beats his man down the right again, and this time he is pulled to the ground as he enters the penalty area.

Good try

Chukwuemeka does well to get space to shoot in the box, but his effort is blocked and cleared.

A series of changes

Changes from both sides in the last few minutes have rather interrupted the flow of this game in the last few minutes. Chukwuemeka and Silva are now on for Dortmund.

Almost a fourth

Adeyemi gets down the right and tries to cross, only to see his cross deflected goalwards. Júnior does superbly to react and keep the ball out.

Close

A dangerous corner is whipped in that is flicked goalwards, and almost turned in at the far post, but BVB just about survive.

Pépé hits it

The Ivorian has a go from the free-kick and forces Kobel into a good save.

More good work from Pépé

Although Villarreal are now 3-0 down, Pépé continues to look dangerous. This time he wins a free-kick right on the edge of the Dortmund box after dancing around a couple of challenges.

Adeyemi adds a curious third

Adeyemi and Brandt combine well on the edge of the box, with Brandt playing a nice flicked pass to send him through on goal. Partey gets back just in time, but can only clear the ball against Adeyemi’s knee. The ball springs off the German forward and curls perfectly into the corner for 3-0.

© INA FASSBENDER

Guirassy makes it 2-0!

Guirassy’s initial effort from the spot is well saved, but he remains calm with the rebound and tucks home for 2-0.

© IMAGO/kolbert-press/Marc Niemeyer

Penalty to Dortmund

Dortmund counter superbly through Guirassy and Brandt, before an initial shot falls to Adeyemi. His goal-bound shot is then blocked by the arm of Foyth, and the Villarreal captain is sent off after a VAR review.

Penalty!

Almost a way through

Good football from Villarreal eventually leads to Buchanan breaking into the box to shoot, but Svensson does well to get back and put in the block.

Back underway

Villarreal get the second half started.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Dortmund 1-0 Villarreal

That goal was the last action of the half, and it means Dortmund go into the break with the lead. It has been a half of limited action where Dortmund have controlled the play, but arguably had fewer chances. That doesn’t mean much now, though. Dortmund and Guirassy will just be pleased to be ahead.

© Christof Koepsel

Half-time

Guirassy gives Dortmund the lead!

A Dortmund corner leads to chaos in the box. The ball makes its way through to the back post, where it bounces clear off Anton into the path of Anselmino. He flicks the ball goalwards, where Guirassy gets up highest to head home. BVB lead!

© Christof Koepsel

Added time

One minute will be added on.

Superb from Adeyemi

The Dortmund forward does brilliantly to get to the byline and pull the ball back. His cross is blocked by Júnior before Foyth clears. That was better from the hosts.

Pépé needs treatment

After a challenge with Schlotterbeck, the Ivorian needs some treatment, but he is okay to continue.

Another chance for the visitors

A good ball into the box is initially mishit before falling to Buchanan, who fires over the bar.

Good defending

Villarreal threaten to break through Oluwaseyi, but Schlotterbeck does superbly to get across and deal with the danger.

More danger for Dortmund

The visitors win a free-kick on the edge of the box. A clever routine finds Gueye on the edge of the box, but he fires narrowly over with his left foot.

Both sides struggling to hit the target

That Sabitzer effort in the 23rd minute is the only one on target so far.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

Good chance

Pépé does brilliantly to open up space for Comesaña on the right. His cross finds Buchanan in a dangerous position inside the box, but his shot is mishit and goes out for a corner via a deflection.

Sabitzer has a go

Dortmund win the ball on the edge of the Villarreal penalty area. Guirassy almost breaks through, but in the end, the ball is cleared to Sabitzer, whose shot is comfortable for the goalkeeper.

The free-kick comes to nothing

The free-kick is cleared to Adeyemi, but he can’t connect with the loose ball correctly, and Villarreal have a goal kick.

A dangerous position

A series of fouls from both sides eventually leads to Nmecha winning a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Dortmund struggling to find a way to goal

The hosts have had around 70% of the ball so far, but are yet to have an effort on goal.

Guirassy looking to stretch the defence

Dortmund have played a few searching long balls in the first 15 minutes, but to no avail so far. Guirassy has been on the end of a few of them, and the Guinean is looking to stretch the Villarreal defence whenever he can.

© Christof Koepsel

The ball is in the net

But it won’t count. Good football sees Villarreal come forward down the right through Pépé before the ball finds its way to Partey in the centre. His shot is blocked, but rolls through to Buchanan, who finishes from close range from an offside position. A warning sign for the hosts.

No chances so far

Dortmund have had much of the ball so far and have threatened to cause Villarreal problems, but we are yet to see any chances of note. Villarreal are sitting in and waiting for their moment to get forward.

Promising

A long ball finds Svensson on the far side, but his attempted pass to Guirassy is cut out. That could have been dangerous.

We’re underway

The ball is moving, and Dortmund start the game by winning a couple of corners that come to nothing. Promising.

Kick-off!

Players in the tunnel

Not long now at all until we get underway.

Signs of things to come?

Ahead of tonight’s fixture, the youth teams of both clubs faced off in the UEFA Youth League. In the end, Villarreal came away with all three points thanks to an 88th-minute winner (2-1). The Dortmund men’s team will be hoping to show the kids how it’s done when this game gets underway in around 20 minutes.

Guirassy’s hot-streak

Guirassy’s recent Champions League home record for Dortmund is impeccable. In his last eight UCL home games, he has scored 10 goals.

© Maja Hitij

More on those teams

Both managers have decided to make a number of changes to their respective weekend teams, with Dortmund making five changes and Villarreal six. Yan Couto, Aarón Anselmino, Marcel Sabitzer, Daniel Svensson and Karim Adeyemi all come into the side for Dortmund. For Villarreal, it is Santiago Mouriño, Juan Foyth, Sergi Cardona, Pape Gueye, Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi that make the starting XI.

© IMAGO/Lucca Fundel

Dortmund starting XI

Kobel – Anton, Anselmino, Schlotterbeck (c) – Couto, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson – Adeyemi, Brandt – Guirassy

Dortmund subs

Ostrzinski, Meyer, Bensebaini, Bellingham, Gross, Duranville, Chukwuemeka, Silva, Can, Ryerson, Campbell, Mane

Villarreal starting XI

Júnior – Mouriño, Foyth (c), Veiga, Cardona – Comesaña, Gueye, Partey, Buchanan – Pépé, Oluwaseyi

Villarreal subs

Tenas, Altimira, Marin, Solomon, Moleiro, G. Moreno, Mikautadze, Parejo, Akhomach, Ayoze Pérez, Pedraza, Navarro

Dortmund team news

Alongside Niklas Süle, who continues to work his way back from a toe injury, Dortmund will be without Maxi Beier, who had to cut the final preparatory training session short. Niko Kovač stressed that fans needn’t worry, however, saying in his press conference: “Maxi played the full 90 minutes against Stuttgart on Saturday and pushed through. Nothing is torn, it’s just a tightness”.

© INA FASSBENDER

Emre Can on conceding late goals

With Dortmund having dropped points from winning positions in their last two Bundesliga games courtesy of stoppage time goals after the 90th minute, club captain Can called for dilligence ahead of Villareal, saying: “We just need to be more focused in the last minutes, to be present. We all want to win these games, that’s not in question. I hope that from now on we’ll do that better again.”

© INA FASSBENDER

Marcelino on facing Dortmund

“It will be a difficult match; how could it be otherwise? We expect it to be well-balanced. We know Dortmund are dangerous in attack, but we know we can hurt them. We must defend well, attack with poise, and be penetrative and aggressive in the final third. The result will be decided by the team that shows most determination and takes their chances.”

© INA FASSBENDER

Kovač on facing Villarreal

“They’re performing really well in the league, just behind Barcelona and Real. They haven’t yet achieved what they could have in the Champions League. So tomorrow’s game is crucial for them, they’ll have to give it their all.”

© INA FASSBENDER

Sinking Yellow Submarine?

Villarreal travel to Dortmund still searching for their first win in this season’s Champions League. The Yellow Submarine also took a point off Juventus after opening with a narrow defeat to Spurs, but have since lost to Man City (2-0) and tournament debutants Pafo (1-0). Despite consolidating third place in La Liga with a 2-1 win over Mallorca at the weekend, Marcelino’s side are 32nd in the 36-team league-phase standings.

© IMAGO/KOSTAS PIKOULAS

Dortmund in the mix

Dortmund’s 4-1 loss in Manchester was their first in this season’s Champions League, after a 4-4 draw at Juventus and wins over Athletic Bilbao (4-1) and Copenhagen (4-2). BVB are currently 14th in the league-phase table, occupying one of eight seeded play-off places, but only two points outside the top eight. After Villarreal, they still have games against Bodø/Glimt, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan to come.

© IMAGO/Cody Froggatt

2:03

Dortmund 3-3 Stuttgart – highlights

Dortmund fell nine points behind Bundesliga pacesetters Bayern Munich after twice giving up leads in a six-goal thriller with top-four rivals VfB Stuttgart. A similar fate befell BVB at Hamburg prior to the November international break and, coupled with defeat to Manchester City in their last Champions League outing, means the Black-Yellows are winless in three for the first time since Niko Kovač took over as head coach in February.

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League encounter at home to Villarreal on Matchday 5 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Tuesday.