Borussia Dortmund moved emphatically to the top of the Bundesliga table with a 6-1 thrashing of Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park.
The visitors actually went in front through Karim Haggui's header, but Sokratis Papastathopoulos met a corner himself to pull Dortmund level. Three minutes later Marco Reus fired low from an angle to put his side ahead.
In the second half it was one-way traffic, with Robert Lewandowski notching a hat-trick and substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adding the final goal.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello Bundesliga fans! The weekend of German football action begins right now and we have a belter to get it underway. It's Dortmund vs. Stuttgart.
Both these sides have some really exciting attacking players, which gives me confidence that we will see some goals tonight. After all, there has been just the one 0-0 draw so far this season.
Before I go further into the buildup, let's see what players we'll be watching tonight. I have the teams right here.
DORTMUND XI: Weidenfeller; Grosskreutz, Sokratis, Hummels, Schmelzer; Sahin, Bender; Kuba, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Lewandowski
STUTTGART XI: Ulreich; Sakai, Schwaab, Haggui, Boka; Kvist, Gentner; Leitner, Maxim, Werner; Ibisevic
So it's largely as expected with the lineups, although Timo Werner on the right for Martin Harnik and Moritz Leitner instead of Ibrahima Traore is an interesting move from Thomas Schneider. Presumably Alexandru Maxim will play on the left with Leitner in the hole.
For Dortmund Jakub Blaszczykowski keeps out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who will be a useful addition from the bench if needed. Marcel Schmelzer continues at left-back, with Dortmund looking a lot more solid since his return.
Just five minutes to go until kickoff then, so here's my prediction: As much as I like this Stuttgart side I think Dortmund will take it 2-1. Jurgen Klopp to celebrate his new deal with a win.
The players are out and we're nearly ready to get underway. Dortmund can temporarily move to the top of the Bundesliga with a win, which should be all the motivation they need.
KICKOFF: The visitors get us underway. Leitner, by the way, is on loan from Dortmund and will be looking to impress!
Good start from Stuttgart, who have seen all of the ball early on and are keeping it away from the men in yellow. Marco Reus comes across to combine with Kuba, who goes down, but the referee gives a free kick right on the edge and he was bang on. Great call.
They are a threat with the ball over the top are Dortmund. First Sahin's through to Lewandowski was well cut out and then Kuba was almost in from Schmelzer's pass. The Stuttgart defence has been solid so far.
Good pace from Werner down the left as he's threaded through by Maxim, but Sokratis does well to keep with him then clear. Arthur Boka is a touch fortunate to escape without a yellow for bringing down Kevin Grosskreutz as Dortmund looked to break.
SAVE! Good defending from Karim Haggui to get across and win the tackle as Grosskreutz came down the right. From the throw Kuba rifles an incredibly ambitious bending shot from wide right and Ulreich used every inch of his frame to tip over. That would have been a wonderful goal!
Maxim gets his first opportunity to whip in a free kick from the left, but cannot beat the first man. They can only improve, and he's certainly excellent with a set piece. Werner is then fouled by Grosskreutz to give Maxim another go a bit closer to the byline.
GOAL! Dortmund 0-1 Stuttgart (Karim Haggui)
It's a deep cross and but for Roman Weidenfeller that might have been dipping under the bar. He tips it over and Maxim goes across to take the corner, which is not the best but Haggui meets it with a downward header, which bounces over Sahin on the line and into the top corner!
Dortmund look to hit back immediately, with Grosskreutz doing brilliantly to stop the ball going out and fizz in a cross. It's nodded on but Mkhitaryan is offside as he goes after the second ball.
What a brilliant pass that is from Sahin, who finds the gap just behind the half-way line and threads in Lewandowski. The Pole has Reus in the box but it's well read by Schwaab who turns it behind and nothing comes from the corner.
GOAL! Dortmund 1-1 Stuttgart (Sokratis)
That's a thumping header but again it's not great defending from Sakai who let him drift off. It is, however, a brilliant cross from Sahin from the corner as it bent outwards and allowed for Sokratis to head low. We're back level.
CHANCE! Stuttgart are under a little but of pressure now, as Boka opts for the no-nonsense approach to defending and hoofs one clear. Mkhitaryan flicks over the defence to Reus, who is open, but cannot control it and it goes to Ulreich.
GOAL! Dortmund 2-1 Stuttgart (Marco Reus)
That is a wonderful finish from Reus, but there's an element of luck in the run as he bundled his way through Gentner and Haggui. However, once he had the chance to drill low from the corner of the box he did exactly that and found the bottom corner. Fine finish.
Dortmund are now firmly in control and Stuttgart will be annoyed that they could not hold on to their lead for at least a while longer.
More pressure from Dortmund as Grosskreutz flies down the right and tries to latch on to a deflected Mkhitaryan cross, but he and two other teammates were offside.
Stuttgart remain on the back foot, but Dortmund aren't dominant just now. Haggui with another fine tackle, this time on Kuba, as the Pole looked to get clear down the right. From the corner Sahin's header goes over.
It's absolutely pouring down with rain, but it's not affecting the football at the moment. Ulreich strangely decides to palm the ball out instead of catching, but Gentner wins the foul immediately afterwards to relieve the pressure.
Stuttgart have still just had the one shot, which was Haggui's earlyish goal.They're struggling to find space in among Dortmund's high pressing at the moment as another pass from Maxim towards Werner goes out of play.
Still the Dortmund defence is solid as anything as Stuttgart continue to try to play down the left. Leitner comes across and Boka pushes up but still Dortmund come away with the throw.
PENALTY TO STUTTGART!
No, it's not! It looked as though he had pointed at the spot, but instead it's a drop-ball that is hoofed back to Stuttgart.
I've seen it again and it does look to be a penalty as Werner looked to be caught. It might have been a soft one, but there looked to be contact from Grosskreutz.
HALF-TIME: Dortmund 2-1 Stuttgart
We've had pretty much everything in this game so far and were close to having a penalty late on. Dortmund have done really well to turn it around after going behind early and certainly deserve their half-time lead.
Overall Dortmund have had the far better chances and more of the ball, but all the while it's 2-1 Stuttgart will remain a threat. They will want to do better especially after taking the lead.
The Yellow Wall has been in fine voice throughout and will be even louder with their heroes shooting at the goal in front of them in the second half. I wouldn't be surprised if Schneider decides to replace Leitner at the break as he has done very little in attack.
Almost time for the second half and I expect to see more of the same from Dortmund. They have pressed well but have not yet hit top gear, which they might do in the second half.
KICKOFF: We are back underway here for the second half.
Dortmund are straight back on the ball and the movement of the three behind Lewndowski is fantastic. Sahin looks to ping the ball to Grosskreutz down the right but the full-back just couldn't keep it in play.
Stuttgart have regrouped well and are seeing a lot more of the ball. Maxim has another chance form the left to cross, but it's headed away by Bender for a throw.
BOOKING: Good foul from Sokratis there as Gentner got beyond him. He knew what he was doing and is rightly booked.
GOAL! Dortmund 3-1 Stuttgart (Robert Lewandowski)
There were questions off offside but the striker did really well to get back on and head to Reus, who returns it with a delightful backheel to allow the Pole to tuck in. Game over I think.
GOAL! Dortmund 4-1 Stuttgart (Robert Lewandowski)
Now it is! That's a shambles at the back from Stuttgart, with Sakai completely missing his clearance as Mkhitaryan played a through-ball from the half way line. Lewandowski doesn't need much of an invitation and drills his shot low for a certain win now.
DORTMUND SUB: Big round of applause for Reus as he makes way for Aubameyang. No rest for the wicked - Stuttgart's defence now have to deal with sheer pace.
There's not much of a contest now and the pace has gone right down. Stuttgart will want to make sure it doesn't get out of control. Leitner does not look happy at being outplayed by his Dortmund teammates!
Haggui is having a really good game tonight, it's just a shame it's not being matched by the rest of his teammates. He just pulled off a fine last-ditch tackle on Lewandowski as the Pole played a one-two with Mkhitaryan on the edge of the box.
Dortmund are still pressing high and Stuttgart are still really struggling to get possession. For all the credit I gave Stuttgart's attacking talent, they've certainly disappointed!
STUTTGART SUB: That's the last of Vedad Ibisevic, who is really not happy at all and has been completely anonymous. He makes way for Mohammed Abdellaoue.
DORTMUND SUB: Schmelzer is limping a bit as he comes off for Erik Durm. Hopefully for them the German international will not have another spell on the sidelines.
GOAL! Dortmund 5-1 Stuttgart (Robert Lewandowski)
Lewandowski gets his hat-trick and he is so vital to this Dortmund team. He first finds his international teammate Kuba, whose shot is parried on to the post by Ulreich, with Lewandowski there to tap in the rebound. Schneider's unbeaten start in charge of Stuttgart is over.
STUTTGART SUB: I wonder what 17-year-old Werner has learned today as he makes way for Martin Harnik.
Ulreich still by far the busier keeper as Dortmund press for a sixth. It has been a thoroughly miserable day at the office for the visitors tonight.
GOAL! Dortmund 6-1 Stuttgart (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang)
More bad luck for the visitors. Dortmund break quickly with Lewandowski finding Aubameyang to his right. The Gabonese's shot from a tight angle deflects off Leitner and loops over Ulreich. This is a thrashing.
STUTTGART SUB: Leitner trundles off on his return to his parent club. Traore comes on for him, not that there is much point in changing things at 6-1 down!
Almost full time and I don't expect there to be any time added on considering the result. Stuttgart still cannot string many chances together and they will have to put this down as an anomaly.
FULL TIME: Dortmund 6-1 Stuttgart
Sometimes teams are just outclassed, and that is exactly what has happened tonight. Dortmund controlled the game from the moment they went behind and looked like scoring with every attack. In the end they only managed the six! That's all from me but please stick around on site for reaction and reports form tonight's action. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
