Although the result was ultimately one-sided, Dinamo Zagreb did threaten early on. Gabriel, the Croatian side's standout performer, almost gave them the lead in the first half with a long-range strike that skimmed the top of the crossbar. However, the opportunity proved to be one of the few bright moments for Zagreb, as Dortmund soon took control of the match.
The opening goal came in the 23rd minute, with Dortmund’s forward, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, producing a moment of magic. The 21-year-old winger curled a sensational shot from 25 yards out, leaving Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livaković helpless as the ball sailed into the top corner of the net. It was a goal worthy of any Champions League night, and it set the tone for the remainder of the match.
Just after the break, Dortmund doubled their advantage in clinical fashion. A beautifully weighted cross from Julian Brandt found the head of Ramy Bensebaini, who powered his header past Zagorac in goal. The Algerian left-back’s well-timed movement and precise finishing effectively ended any hopes of a Zagreb comeback, putting Dortmund firmly in control.
The final blow came in the 72nd minute when Dortmund's prolific striker, Serhou Guirassy, sealed the win with a devastating finish. The French forward, who has been in fine form this season, latched onto a through ball and smashed it past Zagorac to give Dortmund their third goal of the evening. The strike capped an excellent individual and team performance, ensuring all three points for Nuri Sahin’s side.
Dortmund’s attacking superiority was evident in the match statistics. The German side created 1.75 expected goals (xG), nearly doubling their total with a final score of 3.0. In contrast, Dinamo Zagreb’s xG of just 0.13 highlighted their lack of attacking cohesion, as they failed to create any meaningful chances to trouble Dortmund's defense.
With the win, Dortmund now focus their attention on a highly anticipated Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich this coming weekend at Signal Iduna Park. The victory over Zagreb keeps them on course in the Champions League, and the team will be eager to maintain their momentum when they face their domestic rivals.
Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb will return to domestic action on Sunday, where they face league leaders Hajduk Split. Coach Mislav Karoglan will hope to bounce back quickly and regroup after what was a disappointing night for his side.
For Dortmund, this performance demonstrated the kind of efficiency and ruthlessness that makes them a dangerous side in European competition. With Guirassy continuing to find the back of the net and the defense holding firm, they will be a team to watch as the Champions League knockout stages approach.
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