Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen: 4 Talking Points

Borussia Dortmund bounced back from a defeat in Berlin spectacularly with a brilliant 4-0 home win against a tough opponent in Bayer Leverkusen. Favre's side made that loss look like just a blip to once again put the ball in Bayern's court as they face RB Leipzig in a tough away fixture later in the day.

Bayer Leverkusen were on top for the first 20 minutes of the game, but made little of their advantage. Their midfield three seemed to be playing around the Dortmund double pivot, but Dortmund began to cope as Brandt and Reus started dropping deeper to support Witsel and Delaney.

While Leverkusen were on top, they failed to take advantage, but within a few minutes of Dortmund taking control, they were 1-0 up when Alcacer converted from a curling cross whipped in by Hakimi.

It only took them 5 minutes in the second half to double their lead through Marco Reus and it was business as usual from then on. Leverkusen were unable to penetrate the Dortmund block for the most part following the second goal. Dortmund maintained good defensive integrity and scored twice on the counter in the last 10 minutes to earn their first clean sheet in the league this season, and their third win.

Marco Reus the perfect foil for Paco Alcacer

Paco Alcacer and Reus complement each other well

Paco Alcacer scores plenty of goals, and it was no surprise that he scored the first of this game. However, for the rest of the game, he failed to make much of an impact. His movement seems limited outside of the box and when he does get on the ball, if he's not tucking it into the back of the net or playing it off to a team-mate, he tends to be quite poor.

At the moment, though, it seems to be working for Borussia Dortmund, because what they seem to lack in Paco, they have it in captain Marco Reus. He seems to be making all the right runs, getting into the right places, carrying the ball forward and turning opponents.

It allows Alcacer to do what he does best in terms of getting into the box and finishing. It also allows Favre the option of leaving Alcacer on the bench in some games and bringing him off the bench which he used to great impact last season.

Julian Brandt v Thorgan Hazard v Jacob Bruun Larsen

Bruun Larsen showed some of his good form from last season when he came on as a substitute

The former Bayer Leverkusen man started the game, and though Julian Brandt offered plenty coming into the centre of the pitch, it was a couple of substitutes who offered more edge for Dortmund.

Favre has a difficult decision to make as Thorgan Hazard and Jacob Bruun Larsen who came off the bench showed plenty of promise. Hazard started the first couple of games for Dortmund but was sidelined by injury and Brandt took his place in the set-up. Although Brandt offers a different kind of threat coming into the middle and linking play, he appeared to intrude on Reus' field of play and misplace a few passes in link-up under pressure.

Playing in this system, Hazard and Bruun Larsen provided more natural width and were both involved in the build-up for the fourth goal, the latter getting the assist.

Sancho, the Sultan of the second half

Sancho had a typically stellar game for Borussia Dortmund

The hype train for Jadon Sancho chugs along undeterred as he bagged another assist in the game and was involved with the third goal as well. It brings his tally to 4 assists and 2 goals so far this season in only 4 games so far.

Sancho was fairly invisible for most of the first half, but became the centre of a lot of Dortmund's play in the second. He had some teething issues taking on Wendell early on but his movement and ability to find space allowed him to receive the ball in dangerous areas and create chances for his teammates.

He played in a sublime low cross to find Reus for the second goal, and tried something similar for the third goal but Hradecky palmed his cross away, which fell to Guerreiro and the Portuguese national made no mistake.

Havertz quiet, Akanji dominant

Manuel Akanji was sublime for Borussia Dortmund

If Leverkusen were to get something out of this game, the prediction would be that Kai Havertz would've been involved. The young midfielder, however, was unable to put his stamp on the game.

Thwarted for the most part by Witsel and Delaney, when he did try to make runs into the box, his supply was cut off by Manuel Akanji who was an absolute rock on the pitch for Dortmund.

Havertz had only one crack at goal fairly late in the game but it was a half-chance that passed him by. He wasn't able to influence the game much in terms of his passing or shooting but perhaps the most disappointing aspect was his lack of penetrating movement which almost typifies him.

Akanji on the other hand, played a huge role in Dortmund's clean sheet. He was proactive in shutting down any promising attacks for the visitors and made plenty of blocks and interceptions to deny Leverkusen's forwards. One, in particular, stood out when he denied Kevin Volland from 6 yards to maintain Dortmund's 1-0 lead at the time.