RB Leipzig 1-4 Borussia Dortmund: Talking points from DFB Pokal triumph

Marco Reus, Sancho and Haaland all deliver on the big stage

Coming into the game, it was clear that Borussia Dortmund had the advantage in terms of attacking quality. By the end of the first half, all of that talent was on full display.

Within the first five minutes, Borussia Dortmund were on the board and all three of their forwards were involved in the play. Marco Reus won the ball off of Kevin Kampl and found Erling Haaland. Haaland showed patience in waiting for Mahmoud Dahoud to join the attack and when the ball got to Sancho, he managed to score with a great curling finish.

A little over 20 minutes later, and it was Haaland’s turn to find the back of the net. Reus played him through with a chance to run at Dayot Upamecano. In a showing of great strength and close control, Haaland put Upamecano on the floor and got back onto his left-foot to double Dortmund’s lead.

Things only got better from there. This time it was Haaland’s turn to pick up the ball in midfield after Mats Hummels won it back. As the Norwegian international won his challenge with Upamecano, Dahoud picked up the ball and Reus was in behind the space the Leipzig defender had vacated. Reus then passed to the wide open Sancho, who cut past Marcel Halstenberg on the line before capping off the perfect first half for Dortmund with a tap in.

The game’s dagger involved all three as well. As the clearance was sent out to Reus, he played a perfect first time volleyed pass to Sancho with plenty of space to run into. Sancho slowed the play down to find Haaland, who had a somewhat fortunate finish as he slipped but saw the ball deflect in off his planted foot.

It seemed whenever Dortmund attacked, they got a clear opportunity to score. And they really should have had two more goals. Haaland’s flicked on header sent Reus in behind, and he found Thorgan Hazard with a squared pass. Hazard stretched for the ball, but could only send his effort wide

Sancho also had a rare mistake in the box. With a chance to get his hat trick, he rounded Péter Gulácsi, but seemed to think that the chasing Benjamin Henrichs was much closer than he actually was. He decided to cut the ball back, and it looked like he wanted to repay Reus for his assist, but Gulácsi intervened. The two chances would have helped put the game to rest earlier, but ultimately mattered little as the front line still claimed the headlines.

Borussia Dortmund have had success against the Leipzig back line in every meeting this season, scoring a total of ten goals in just three games. In 30 Bundesliga games against the rest of the league, Leipzig have conceded just 22 goals. In the two meetings with Dortmund, they conceded six in total. Up until the final, Julian Nagelsmann’s side had conceded just one goal in the DFB-Pokal. But the Black and Yellows were able to feast on the frailties of the Leipzig defence once again.

Reus has one goal and four assists in the three games and Sancho has five goals and two assists. Erling Haaland missed Saturday’s league game, but still scored four goals in two meetings in a matchup that has brought some of Borussia Dortmund’s finest performances this season.