An unremarkable win over Phönix Lübeck hints at Sahin's exciting new plans for Dortmund

Saturday's 4-1 win at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion was a pedestrian start to the new season, but it also showcased what Dortmund fans can expect from their team in the Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund didn’t have to work particularly hard in their first competitive game of the season. Although Phönix Lübeck did score an impressive goal to give their outnumbered fans something to cheer about, when Obinna Lloka tucked the ball into the back of the net with an impressive shot in the 55th minute, by that point the Bundesliga giants were already three goals to the good. And all three of them had essentially been gifted to Nuri Sahin’s team. 

Dortmund opened the scoring just three minutes into the match when Waldemar Anton tapped the ball home from a few yards out, after a corner found him unmarked at the back post. Then, 27 minutes later, Emre Can scored from the penalty spot when Karim Adeyemi was fouled in the opposing box. Following that, as if to complete the hat trick of misfortune, Lübeck then offered up a third goal just before the break, when a long ball from new signing Pascal Groß was more or less watched and admired by defensive midfielder and club captain Johann Berge before he realised that Julian Brandt had snuck in behind him to tap home the goal. 

Against such limited opponents, it’s hard to see what Dortmund could really take from such a game. And that was more or less on show for all to see by the manner in which each Dortmund goalscorer treated their achievement with all the passion and excitement of a pre-season friendly. And yet, there was little doubt that this was the system and tactics that we’re likely to see from Sahin’s side this season and in many ways there were some fascinating changes from the team that reached last season’s Champions League final just a few months ago.