Talking Points from Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach

Roman Bürki puts on impressive display as Dortmund keep first clean sheet of the season

It would be a shame to end this exploration of Borussia Dortmund’s performance without mentioning Roman Bürki. Bürki’s performance was another example of improvement across the board.

Often a player scapegoated and lamented by fans, Bürki really put on a show as he provided some jaw dropping saves for fans to enjoy, the most impressive of which came in the 31st minute. Former Dortmund attacker Jonas Hofmann received the ball from Lars Stindl as he closed in on Dortmund’s box. Hofmann continued his run, cutting inwards around Meunier, laying off to a more centrally positioned teammate only to receive it once again and make an attempt on goal, which produced a sublime double save from Bürki, denying one of Gladbach’s best chances of the game.

Bürki’s double save proved to be pivotal in making sure the complexion of the game did not change for the worse for Dortmund. One can hope he can maintain this incredible momentum and ensure many more clean sheets down the line, as well as change a few minds about whether he is capable and talented enough to start for a side like Dortmund.

Final thoughts

For those of us of a Die Schwarzgelben inclination, we couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. Seeing both the offensive and defensive sides of the team running on all cylinders is encouraging, especially considering the result Bayern were able to pull off on Friday.

With great performances come great expectations, and one can only hope this young squad is capable of carrying these expectations forward to produce some long awaited silverware. The most impressive and important thing about the result wasn’t necessarily the scoreline, but the fact that Dortmund seemed focused for the entirety of the game.

They saw the task at hand and played smart as opposed to stylish – a criticism they often received last season, and rightly so. Instead of overplaying chances, they created and finished them with lethal precision. They held onto possession when they needed to and attacked in a more calculated manner.

Seeing this team play not only with confidence but also with efficiency is likely the most promising thing to take from this result. If they continue to play this way, the future is bright, and we should all get ready for a season that promises to be positive, eventful and exciting in the weeks and months to come.