PLAYER RATINGS | Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Wolfsburg – Adeyemi wondergoal secures BVB win

Borussia Dortmund returned to Bundesliga action at the Westfalenstadion to close Matchday 4, facing Wolfsburg just days after their pulsating Champions League clash with Juventus in Turin. Die Wölfe, meanwhile, were eager to bounce back, still stung by 1. FC Köln spoiling their 80th birthday celebrations last time out. 

After a slow start to the game, Dortmund broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when Joachim Maehle surrendered possession in his own third to Marcel Sabitzer. Karim Adeyemi picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a venomous strike, beating Kamil Grabara at his near post. 

Maximilian Beier then squandered a golden chance to double the lead, heading just wide of the far post after a pinpoint cross from Julian Ryerson. For the remainder of the first half, Paul Simonis’ side saw much of the ball but struggled to carve out meaningful chances. 

The second half began with Dortmund reasserting control and applying sustained pressure in the final third. 

Dortmund would however survive a real scare on the hour mark when a Wolfsburg free kick lofted in by Maximilian Arnold was won by Mohamed Amoura, who managed to lay the ball back across the box to Konstantinos Koulierakis. The Greek international fired onto the underside of the bar and onto the goal line, agonisingly close to an equaliser. A wake-up call for Dortmund, perhaps. 

Grabara made an outstanding save to deny Felix Nmecha a goal to give Dortmund the breathing space they craved. Koulierakis along with his defensive partner Moritz Jenz both made goal-saving tackles throughout the remainder of the second half as Dortmund probed for a second. 

Despite weathering a late flurry of Wolfsburg corners in stoppage time, Niko Kovac’s side held firm to see out the victory. 

Dortmund will no doubt be pleased with the result, though perhaps a touch frustrated that their dominance translated into only a single-goal margin. Wolfsburg, to their credit, produced a disciplined defensive display. Simonis’ side, however, will rue their lack of creativity. Despite enjoying sustained spells of control, particularly in the first half, they fashioned just the one clear opportunity. 

Next up, Dortmund travel to Mainz as they look to build on their strong start to the season, while Wolfsburg will aim to respond when they welcome RB Leipzig. 

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Wolfsburg Player Ratings

Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel (6) – Waldemar Anton (6), Nico Schlotterbeck (6), Ramy Bensebaini (7) – Julian Ryerson (7), Marcel Sabitzer (6), Felix Nmecha (6), Daniel Svensson (5) – Karim Adeyemi (7), Maximilian Beier (5), Serhou Guirassy (5) 

Others: Carney Chukwuemeka (6), Julian Brandt (6), Jobe Bellingham (6), Salih Özcan (-) 

Wolfsburg: Kamil Grabara (7) – Kilian Fischer (5), Moritz Jenz (6), Konstantinos Koulierakis (6), Joachim Maehle (5) – Maximilian Arnold (6), Vinícius Souza (5), Andreas Skov Olsen (6), Lovro Majer (5), Patrick Wimmer (6) – Mohamed Amoura (6) 

Others: Adam Daghim (6), Christian Eriksen (6), Mattias Svanberg (6), Jonas Wind (6), Dženan Pejčinović (-) 

GGFN Player of the Match: Karim Adeyemi (7)

A game where not too many players stood out with great performances, Adeyemi just pips Julian Ryerson, who had a great game from wing back. A super strike from the 23- year-old proved crucial and won the three points for Die Schwarzgelben. Konstantinos Koulierakis stood out for Wolfsburg, a commanding performance from the Greek defender and came within a millimetre of scoring an equaliser for his team. 

GGFN | Harry Good