Batshuayi double fuels Dortmund comeback win

Michy Batshuayi scored twice, the second goal arriving in stoppage time, to earn Borussia Dortmund a 3-2 comeback win over Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie yesterday.

Elsewhere, Arsenal powered past Ostersund 3-0, Atletico Madrid thrashed Copenhagen 4-1 and Italian league leader Napoli slipped to a surprise 3-1 home defeat against Leipzig.

Batshuayi, who has been in sparkling form since joining from Chelsea on loan in the mid-season transfer window, helped hosts Dortmund record their first victory in European competition this season. Dortmund had not won in eight previous appearances and only joined the Europa League after finishing third in its Champions League group.

Andre Schurrle put Dortmund ahead after 30 minutes, only for Josep Ilicic to score twice for the Italian visitors in the 51st and 56th.

Batshuayi equalised in the 65th before grabbing the late winner. The Belgian striker replaced striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Dortmund following his move to Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger had expressed concern that his Arsenal team had never practiced, much less played, on an artificial surface like Swedish side Ostersund’s. He needn’t have worried. Arsenal had little trouble easing to a 3-0 win thanks to an early strike by Nacho Monreal and passes by Henrikh Mkhitaryan that led to two more goals.

Monreal scored after 13 minutes when he pounced after a shot by Alex Iwobi was saved by goalkeeper Aly Keita. Then Mkhitaryan, who joined Arsenal from Manchester United two weeks ago, intercepted a pass and in the area before his cross went in off an Ostersund player in the 24th minute.

He then laid on the third goal for Mesut Ozil in the 58th minute before Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina saved a stoppage-time penalty by Tom Pettersson.