Niklas Süle was BVB captain in the test match at Westfalia Rhynern. Marco Reus scored two goals and set up another in the 7-0 win.
When the test match between Borussia Dortmund and Oberliga team Westfalia Rhynern was already underway, what was happening off the pitch was more important to many of the 2,500 spectators in Hamm. Mats Hummels took time to walk around the pitch, signed autographs and grinned at cameras. At the first appearance of the new season, the vice-champion presented himself to the touch on Wednesday evening.
In sporting terms, however, the 7-0 (3-0) win at the start of the series of test matches was of very limited significance. Dortmund coach Edin Terzic is working with a short squad at the beginning of this preparation, consisting mainly of players from the U23 and U19 teams. The internationals are still on holiday and are not expected back in the Ruhr area until the weekend. Karim Adeyemi is still curing a muscle injury in his thigh, the controversial newcomer Felix Nmecha trained fully with the team for the first time on Tuesday – and was absent in Rhynern.
Otherwise, Terzic offered the remaining players who still have rank and name: Niklas Süle led Dortmund onto the field as captain, Thorgan Hazard dribbled down the left wing, Marco Reus through the middle. Sale candidate Thomas Meunier defended on the right. Mats Hummels, meanwhile, was on the bench, as were noble talent Julien Duranville and Mateu Morey, who has had a long history of injury.
It took twelve minutes for BVB to crack the Oberliga side’s defence. Hazard crossed, Reus drove the ball with his left hand into the goal for 1:0. And it took the 34-year-old another twelve minutes to score the next goal worth seeing – a flick from 18 metres into the left corner for 2:0.
It was a typical preparation game. The favourites struggled but showed that they had never played together in this constellation before. The outsiders from the top division defended to the best of their ability – and had a double chance. First, Meunier intervened at the right moment, then the Belgian international scraped the ball off the goal line (36th). On the other side, U19 striker Julian Rijkhoff added the 3:0 before the break after a cross from Reus (43.). Otherwise conspicuous: left-back Guille Bueno from the U23s.
At the break, Terzic changed almost completely. Hummels came on for Süle and took over the captain’s armband, Reus, Meunier and Hazard also stayed down. Morey made his comeback as a right-back. Paul-Philipp Besong (53./67.) scored a brace, as did Reus. Rhynern’s Hakan Sezler missed a penalty kick (74th). Hendry Blank increased the lead to 6:0 (87th) and Prince Aning scored the final goal (89th).