Borussia Dortmund began their defence of the Bundesliga title with a 3-1 victory over Hamburg.
Grosskreutz brace inspires 3-1 victory over Hamburg
Borussia Dortmund began their defence of the Bundesliga title with a 3-1 victory over Hamburg in the opening game of the season in Germany's top flight.
The Westphalians dominated the game almost at will and could have won more comfortably against a woeful Hamburg side, who included new signing Michael Mancienne and nevertheless managed a late consolation.
A Kevin Grosskreutz brace and a goal from the livewire Mario Gotze had already put the result beyond doubt, however, and gave the defending champions a perfect start to the season in front of a full house of over 80,000 at the Westfalenstadion.
Dortmund won over plenty of new fans with their brand of football last season and it seems like the close season has not upset their rhythm.
They may have sold Nuri Sahin to Real Madrid, but that void has been filled by the signing of Ilkay Gundogan, who was making his debut, while the rest of the squad has remained intact.
And it was business as usual as Dortmund soon chopped their opponents down to size - a common occurrence last season.
Grosskreutz was left acres of room by a disorganised Hamburg defence to put Dortmund in front after 17 minutes.
Carved open
Gotze was the provider of the first Bundesliga goal of the season, finished off with aplomb by his Germany team-mate, and he was at the heart of everything in the Dortmund midfield.
Fittingly, he grabbed the second goal in the 29th minute.
He played a neat one-two with Robert Lewandowski, who back-heeled the ball back into his path, enabling him to place his shot to the right of the helpless Jaroslav Drobny.
Shinji Kagawa hit the inside of the post as Dortmund threatened to run away with the game in the first half.
Only two minutes were up in the second half when Grosskreutz prodded a loose ball in from close range after Gotze had again carved a way through the Hamburg defence, playing another one-two with Sven Bender to create room for Grosskreutz's goal.
Dortmund eased off somewhat and Hamburg were able to net a scrappy consolation when substitute Robert Tesche hammered a loose ball in from 10 yards after a goalmouth scramble.
But the defending champions' victory was never in any doubt, and the rest of the Bundesliga cannot fail to have noticed that Jurgen Klopp's side are again going to be the team to beat this year.
