Match Ratings: Borussia Dortmund Batter Schalke 4-0

In what may very well be the final Revierderby in the Bundesliga for years to come, Borussia Dortmund made it a memorable one with a thumping 4-0 victory that saw a brace from Erling Haaland and a goal apiece from Jadon Sancho and Raphael Guerreiro. Aside from the goals, it was a total team victory from start to finish.

Anyway, here are our match ratings for yesterday’s resounding derby victory:

Starting XI

Marwin Hitz

Harrison: 6

Sean K: 6

Sean M: 6

Mateu Morey

Harrison: 6

Morey occasionally has some bright moments in forcing turnovers and helping to spring counters, but his situational awareness and sloppiness in possession is holding him back. If he can learn to add some more control to his game, things should improve.

Sean K: 7

I think Morey deserves something higher than a 6. According to Sofascore.com He led the team in tackles and successful challenges, and it was his pressing Amine Harit that knocked the ball loose for Jadon Sancho to collect and eventually score.

Sean M: 6.5

I am not a fan of Morey and I’ve made that clear many times before. But, I do believe in giving credit when credit is due. His highway robbery of Amine Harit sparked the team to life and led to the first goal. He also showed much better fight to reclaim the ball after being dispossessed. Hopefully, he will build off of this performance.

Emre Can

Harrison: 7

Emre was his usually bullish self, making physical challenges and playing the role of temporary CB. I miss his forward progression as a mid, but he can handle deeper duties well enough.

Sean K: 7

Sarah has been calling Can the “Candyman”. I think it’s supposed to be a Willy Wonka reference, but I think it fits more as a pun on “handyman.” It almost doesn’t matter where you play Emre Can, he’s just a tank in whatever role on the pitch he occupies. He looked more at home as a center back than Mats Hummels did today,

Sean M: 7

As Sean K said above Can’s versatility has saved Dortmund's hide many times this year. I also agree with Sean K on looking more relaxed than Hummels did today. More on that below.

Mats Hummels

Harrison: 6

Sean K: 6

I thought that Hummels looked a little shaky today, which is why I’m a bit surprised that his defensive numbers were really good.

Sean M: 5.5

As I said after the Sevilla match Hummels’ adventures forward have become a liability. His trademark long ball accuracy has turned into more of an NFL-style punt than an attacking threat. On Wednesday it was Manuel Akanji to his rescue, today it was Emre Can. Right now Can looks better suited to fill the role of a forward-thinking centre-back than Hummels. If either of the two previous matches had been against a side with a more direct attack BVB could have been in some serious trouble.

Raphael Guerreiro

Harrison: 7.5

The Portuguese wonder churned out a solid performance today, bombing up and down the left flank before earning himself a goal.

Sean K: 8

As I posted from the Fear the Wall Twitter account, I really believe that Raphael Guerreiro is the best attacking full back in the world. His ability to not only progress the ball but to become involved in the final third is unmatched. His goal today was the result of an excellent combination with Marco Reus and an expert finish.

Sean M: 8

Thomas Delaney

Harrison: 6

Sean K: 7

Delaney wasn’t the main catalyst for BVB’s attack, but he did a great job shielding the back line. In the limited time when the score was still 0-0, Delaney blocked shot after shot to make sure that nothing ever reached Marwin Hitz.

Sean M: 7

He smothered Schalke’s attacks in the center of the park today. He also had some nice blocks to prevent any potential shots from distance troubling Hitz. All in all exactly what you want from him.

Mahmoud Dahoud

Harrison: 8

Mo deserves a long-term role with this club. He’s a dogged defender in the mid and has the ability to drive progression upfield. He had some smart movements and passes around the box today while neutralizing Schalke’s midfield threat. Dude is a beast.

Sean K: 8

Sean M: 8.5

Another awesome performance. One can only wonder what position BVB would be in if Mo had received his run in the team earlier into Edin Terzic’s tenure.

Julian Brandt

Harrison: 6

Sean K: 4

I’m so sick of every attack that goes through Brandt instantly dying. I don’t know what he needs to do to regain his form, but he needs to do it quick if he wants to have any role at the club moving forward.

Sean M: 5

His first touch is terrible and he stymied several attacking chances the team had in the first half. At this point, it looks like he is trying harder to dethrone Nico Shultz as the worst transfer of 2019 than improve on his shortcomings. He just keeps making the same mistakes and I'm sick of it. I hope Hazard is back soon so Brandt can take his rightful place on the bench next to Shultz.

Jadon Sancho

Harrison: 8.5

The left-wing (and sometimes right-wing) lion continues to roar for Dortmund. Jadon is finally being allowed the time and space up top to do his thing. Scoring yet another goal and tapping his badge before receiving the captain’s band is just perfection.

Sean K: 8.5

Sean M: 9

It’s no coincidence that Dortmund’s best performances have come when Sancho is on top of his game. IMO Sancho and Dahoud are the keys to qualifying for the Champions League. If they can continue thier current form then the team has a shot. So let's hope they can stay hot.

Marco Reus

Harrison: 6.5

Sean K: 7

The captain’s play this season hasn’t been particularly flashy. To borrow a cliché from hockey pundits, he’s been doing a lot of the “meat-and-potatoes” in pressing and ball progression that allows BVB’s flashier players like Sancho and Haaland work their magic.

Sean M: 7

A solid shift from the captain. He had a trademark Marco Reus cutback assist and his leadership after the Kolasinac yellow card can’t be understated. His quick intervention to break up the bickering prevented what could have been Mo’s second yellow card or a potential donneybrook form kicking off. This isn’t something you’ll see on the stat sheet but it is exactly the type of cool-headed decision-making you want from the captain. BVB can’t afford to have any of their key players suspended going into the next few weeks.

Erling Haaland

Harrison: 8.5

Sean K: 9

Tap-in merchant.

Sean M: 9

At this point I pretty much expect Haaland to do something spectacular every time he touches the ball. Today he did not disappoint. Considering this is more than likely going to be the last Revierderby for a while, that volley will be replayed for years.

Substitutes

Jude Bellingham

Sean M: 7

The yellow card he picked up was a bit unfortunate, especially since it was his first foul of the match. His assist for Haalnad’s second goal might as well have been the final nail in Schalke’s coffin, all but sealing their fate and ensuring their relegation.

Harrison: 7

Gio Reyna

N/A

Reinier Jesus

N/A

Thomas Meunier

N/A

Youssoufa Moukoko

N/A

Overall

Sean K: 9

If Schalke weren’t the worst team in the league by a considerable margin, I would give this match a 10. BVB controlled basically every minute of the match, and showed every bit of aggression, quick ball movement, and passion that’s been missing over the last few months. I’m not yet convinced that BVB can maintain this against stronger opposition, but for now, this is a sign that the team may be improving just at the right time.

Sean M: 8

BVB did what exactly a superior team needs to do to an inferior opponent, put them to the sword. My only gripe is Brandt’s name on the team sheet. I would prefer to see Bellingham from the start or Reinier if Terzic is looking for a more attacking option. Let's hope the team can carry this form into next weekend's match up against Arminia Bielefeld.

Harrison: 8.5

This was a pleasant, largely comfortable victory for Dortmund. Aside from some stretches in the second half where Schalke actually Played Football, BVB were in cruise control. The reintroduction of Dahoud back into the line-up seems to have helped rejuvenate the squad. Like Sean K. said, I’m not sure how this team will fare against stronger opposition, but they did see of Sevilla earlier in the week. Dare I have some hope for the future?

Your Thoughts

Do you agree with our ratings? Leave your thoughts below.