On Friday, Bayern Munich opened the Bundesliga season with an comprehensive 5-0 defeat of Hamburger SV, confirming the club’s status as resounding favorites for a 26th German title.
One day later, one of their longtime rivals made their own intentions clear with a vicious victory of their own.
Borussia Dortmund wants to reclaim the Bundesliga throne, and it’s clear the club is healthy and ready to roll after giving Thomas Teuchel a big time win his league debut as manager.
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BVB scored thrice in the first half against a solid opponent in Borussia Monchengladbach. When the dust had settled, Marco Reus, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has goals to match Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s brace, and the Westfalenstadion had hope for its first title since 2012 with a 4-0 win over the visitors.
Reus’ goal in particular was pretty, as he banged home a near-post bullet to start the scoring, but possession and passing were equal parts of a win that will have received the attention of the Bundesliga.
İlkay Gündoğan completed 94 passes vs. Gladbach, at least 12 more than any other Bundesliga player in action today. pic.twitter.com/zYXQlDyvNQ
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 15, 2015
USMNT midfielder Alfredo Morales (right) had a day to remember, as he provided the assist on Ingolstadt’s first ever Bundesliga goal, one that would stand the test of time in a 1-0 win over Mainz. The 25-year-old American played a nutmeg through ball that Lukas
Hinterseer finished to lift Die Schanzer to three points.
Aron Johannsson’s Bundesliga debut was memorable in a different way, as the Icelandic-Alabaman went 33 minutes at striker but his Werder Bremen side was thumped 3-0 by Schalke. An own goal joined Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on the scoreboard.
John Anthony Brooks was an 84th minute substitute in Hertha Berlin’s 1-0 win over FC Augsburg.
Elsewhere
Darmstadt 2-2 Hannover
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 1899 Hoffenheim
Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt — Sunday
Stuttgart vs. Koln — Sunday