Borussia Dortmund recorded a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Anderlecht in the Champions League this evening to maintain their winning start to Group D.
The visitors were ahead inside three minutes courtesy of Ciro Immobile's strike, although Die Borussen spurned a couple of glorious chances to put the tie to bed before the interval.
Adrian Ramos came off the bench to add goals number two and three in the second half, however, ensuring that Dortmund remain at the top of the group after two games played.
Here, Sports Mole looks back at the 90 minutes of action from Brussels.
Match statistics
Anderlecht
Shots: 4
On target: 1
Possession: 46%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 7
Borussia Dortmund
Shots: 16
On target: 9
Possession: 54%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 6
Was the result fair?
Jurgen Klopp's side came into this game on the back of a sticky patch of form in the Bundesliga, but right from the off they looked to get at their opponents, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in particular causing Andrlecht's defenders an array of problems throughout. Dortmund were guilty of not taking their chances in the first half, and that could have come back to haunt them after the interval had the hosts created better openings, but as it was substitute Ramos took his chances to put the game to bed.
Anderlecht often struggle on this stage, although their domestic form shows that they should not be discounted completely. With this their first defeat of the season in all competitions, they found it difficult to live with the movement and pace of Die Borussen's attackers who enjoyed far too much time and space. A three-goal cushion is just about what Dortmund deserve, although they will need to be less profligate in future if they are to go all the way in this competition.
Anderlecht's performance
It was only really in the second half, during a spell of around 10 minutes, that Anderlecht started asking questions of Dortmund. Dennis Praet did force a save out of Roman Weidenfeller on 15 minutes, yet it was not enough for a side with aspirations of progressing through the group stage. Aleksandar Mitrovic also struck the post late on, but at that stage the game was already over as a contest, highlighted by the growing frustration of the home fans. Anything less than three points against Arsenal in their next game and you feel that the Purple and Whites' dream will be over for another year at least.
Borussia Dortmund's performance
They may be struggling domestically, but it's now two wins from two, five goals scored and zero conceded for BVB in Europe this season. Klopp's men upped the tempo considerably, creating a string of chances in the first half in particular which they failed to make the most of. Dortmund have been undone by injuries yet again in the early stages of this campaign, with the likes of Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nuri Sahin all missing. The potent forward duo of Aubameyang and Immobile clicked into gear from the off, however, giving the visiting side a real platform to build from when they return to league action on the weekend.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: He may not have scored, but he did pretty much everything else in Brussels this evening. A horrendous first-half miss aside, the Gabon international was a menace throughout, creating chances aplenty for his teammates from the first minute until the last.
Biggest gaffe
He may have been the best player on the field, yet that does not excuse Aubameyang's early miss which could well have proved a turning point in the game. With essentially an empty goal to aim at, the forward could only find the side-netting from a few yards out. Shocker.
Referee performance
A few questionable decisions from experienced Italian referee Paolo Tagliavento, although he and his officials got the two key disallowed goal decisions spot on.
What next?
Anderlecht: The Belgian champions remain unbeaten domestically this season, and they will be looking to bounce back from tonight's setback when they take on Genk on the weekend.
Borussia Dortmund: Hamburger SV are the visitors to the Westfalenstadion on Saturday as the Black and Yellows attempt to get their Bundesliga season back on track.
Daniel Lewis
