Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JADON MAKES KLASSIK CASE
VfL Wolfsburg 0 Borussia Dortmund 2
JADON SANCHO leapt off the bench to provide a killer assist – and set himself up for a start in Der Klassiker.
The Manchester United target needed just 17 minutes to set up the decisive second goal for Lucien Favre’s high-fliers Borussia Dortmund.
The England international has been struggling with a groin injury and was kept in reserve as Dortmund attempted to gain ground on leaders Bayern Munich.
And they were battling to hold onto a first-half lead when Sancho (above) drove forward during a typical breakaway after being introduced just after the hour. He charged into the heart of the Wolfsburg defence before sliding the ball to Achraf Hakimi who slotted home the 78th-minute goal that finished off the hosts.
That has put Sancho in contention for a start on Tuesday in the big
German derby classic as Dortmund play host to arch rivals Bayern.
It was not vintage from the visitors and it even saw a surprising air-shot from in-form Erling Haaland as they went ahead just after the half-hour. Julian
Brandt linked with Hakimi on the right who slipped a ball to Thorgan Hazard.
The Belgian playmaker fired across goal. Haaland swung and missed, Raphael Guerreiro made no such mistake.
Dortmund withdrew Mats Hummels at the break with former Liverpool man Emre Can deputising at the heart of the defence.
The second half was only two minutes old when Renato Steffen found himself with a clear sight of goal only for him to hit the crossbar.
That was as close as Wolfsburg came. There was no way back after Felix Klaus was sent off shortly after Sancho had set up the second.