Bellingham’s back in the groove
JUDE BELLINGHAM struck after just 29 minutes as the Bundesliga returned, with BORUSSIA DORTMUND beating AUGSBURG 4-3 thanks to three goals from players born in England. Seventy-two days had passed since Dortmund’s last league game, due to the World Cup and the Bundesliga’s traditional winter break. But England midfielder Bellingham was back in his stride immediately — collecting a pass on the edge of the area, feinting left then right to beat his man and curling a powerful effort into the bottom corner. Arne Maier equalised on 40 minutes for the visitors and although Dortmund centre back Nico Schlotterbeck headed them back in front soon after, it was 2-2 at half-time thanks to Ermedin Demirovic’s dink over the goalkeeper. With the match heading for a draw with 15 minutes left, it then swung back and forth three times in three minutes. First, England Under 19 international Jamie Bynoe-Gittens cut inside and curled a shot in off the far post to restore Dortmund’s lead. But on 78 minutes, David Colina grabbed a third Augsburg equaliser with his first touch in the Bundesliga, slotting into an empty net after Irvin Cardona had hit a post. But just seconds later, Sunderland-born USA international Gio Reyna put Dortmund back in front — this time for good — with a brilliant dipping volley, lashing in from the corner of the box. There was more good news for Dortmund as former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller finally made his debut, six months after being forced to take an extended leave of absence after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Haller played 28 minutes off the bench in boots that had ‘F*** cancer’ written on them.
In Serie A, Tottenham’s Harry Winks gifted victory to UDINESE on his first start on loan at SAMPDORIA.
At 0-0 in the 88th minute, Winks’s offbalance header on the edge of his box ran back towards his own goal and straight to the feet of Udinese’s Kingsley Ehizibue. Six yards out, the right back flicked the ball with the outside of his right boot for the winning goal.
The defeat means Sampdoria stay second-bottom with just nine points from 19 matches and eight from safety. Elsewhere, Tammy Abraham scored his sixth goal of the season to seal a 2-0 win for ROMA away to SPEZIA.
It lifted Jose Mourinho’s side into the top four ahead of Atalanta’s trip to crisis club Juventus last night.
In La Liga, Pedri’s goal was enough to maintain BARCELONA’s lead at the top as they beat GETAFE 1-0.