What we learned from Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim

Playing Marco Reus and Julian Brandt together is somewhat limited Borussia Dortmund

Marco Reus and Julian Brandt both like to play in the same spaces, with the latter always being viewed as the former’s long-term replacement. Both players are highly technical, exceptionally talented and can come into the midfield to help in build-up and chance creation.

Brandt is currently drifting wide more but still plays mainly as a creative number ten in the final third. While Reus largely takes up the same spaces, allowing the full-back on the side with Brandt to pinch in, limiting space and time for Borussia Dortmund in the final third.

Playing a more natural winger would help Reus and Brandt both find space in and around the box. Edin Terzic should look to start one of several options as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Karim Adeyemi, Gio Reyna and Julien Duranville all return to fitness and/or form.

This would allow Reus and Brandt to swap around the 60th minute of most games. This style of rotation was often used in the 16/17 campaign, and could be useful in preventing Borussia Dortmund from looking one-dimensional in attack.

In 16/17, this helped the young players build confidence and take advantage of tired legs. Enacting this in-game rotation could allow Reus to elongate his current excellent run of form with him and Brandt switching starts with substitute appearances.

With Karim Adeyemi coming off the bench and looking better in duels, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens looking stronger as a starter, Borussia Dortmund should take advantage of this depth and create more competition for starts.