Nuri Şahin, the new boss of Borussia Dortmund, kicked off his UEFA Champions League (UCL) managerial career with a bang, leading Der BVB to a convincing 3-0 win over Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadion. A second-half brace from substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens sealed the victory, extending Dortmund’s impressive clean sheet record against the Blauw-Zwart to five matches.
Brugge’s Home Struggles Continue
Heading into the match, Brugge’s recent UCL home form was far from impressive, with just three wins in their last 20 games. Facing the previous season’s UCL runners-up, the Belgian side was always going to be up against it, and the pressure nearly broke them early on. Just four minutes in, a cross from the right found Donyell Malen at the far post, but his indecision saw a weak shot roll agonizingly wide. Moments later, Karim Adeyemi tested Simon Mignolet with a long-range effort, signaling Dortmund’s attacking intent.
However, it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Dortmund’s early dominance almost came to nothing when a poorly cleared corner led to chaos in their box. Gustaf Nilsson’s close-range shot forced Gregor Kobel into a reflex save, and Hugo Vetlesen struck the crossbar from just three yards out. Despite the scare, Dortmund soon reasserted their control, with Adeyemi again coming close before Maxim De Cuyper cleared a dangerous pass across the backline.
Breakthrough on a Night of High Tension
The second half began with both sides looking to break the deadlock. Brugge’s Christos Tzolis, denied a penalty earlier, came close with a header from a Joaquin Seys cross. Dortmund responded through Marcel Sabitzer, whose low shot from an indirect free-kick narrowly missed the target, raising hopes of an imminent breakthrough.
Sensing the need for a change, Şahin made a decisive double substitution, bringing on Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Serhou Guirassy. The fresh legs injected new life into Dortmund’s attack, but Brugge weren’t ready to roll over. A counter-attack from the home side saw Andreas Skov Olsen set up Vetlesen, whose shot required a full-stretch save from Kobel.
Bynoe-Gittens Steals the Show
As the game wore on, it seemed destined for a stalemate, but Jamie Bynoe-Gittens had other ideas. In the 78th minute, Emre Can found the youngster with a precise pass at the edge of the box. Bynoe-Gittens took a shot from a tight angle, and a deflection off Brandon Mechele sent the ball past Mignolet to give Dortmund the lead.
Not content with just one goal, Bynoe-Gittens doubled his tally minutes later. After dancing past two defenders with a series of stepovers, he drilled a low shot into the right corner, securing the win and sending the traveling Dortmund fans into raptures.
Guirassy Adds Insult to Injury
With Brugge’s spirit broken, Dortmund added another in stoppage time. Mechele brought down Guirassy in the box, and the Guinean stepped up to smash the penalty into the roof of the net. The final whistle blew moments later, confirming Dortmund’s ninth consecutive season of UCL participation would begin with a win.
Brugge’s German Woes Continue
For Brugge, this loss marks their sixth defeat in 10 home matches against German opposition, a record they will be desperate to improve. Despite their brave resistance, they were ultimately undone by bad luck and Dortmund’s superior firepower.
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Conclusion
Nuri Şahin’s Dortmund reign couldn’t have started any better, with a solid win away from home in the UCL. The tactical switches paid off, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ heroics ensured the German giants left Belgium with three points. As for Brugge, they’ll need to regroup quickly to avoid another disappointing European campaign. For Kenyan fans, this match was a thrilling reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and the magic of the UEFA Champions League.
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