Get in, Ryerson

Welcome to the Dortmund Dispatch.

In this edition:

· Julian Ryerson's dream goal secures the points against Hoffenheim.

· Despite underperformance, Dortmund briefly topped the league standings.

· Standout performances from Schlotterbeck, Özcan and Reus.

· Dortmund top the Bundesliga table albeit briefly.

· AC Milan up next in the Champions League.

TSG Hoffenheim 1 - 3 BVB

Every football club needs, a Julian Ryerson:  a determined if somewhat limited player that gives it all, tries their best and gets the most out of their abilities. A player who becomes a fan favourite in spite and because of their limitations. When such a player scores the euphoria is doubled, because it’s Ryerson.

That is why when Ryerson took the ball from the full-back ran with it up the length of the pitch, beat two players, charged into the penalty area, and slipped the ball between the keepers’ legs to score it was doubly special. Football genius from an unlikely player. It was a full-on Gareth Bale from a player who is not Gareth Bale.

But why am I describing it to you when you can watch it and the other three goals here?

Or check out the Titanic version here, at least until it gets taken down.

Ryerson’s goal exemplified his hunger and tenacity. It also demonstrated his capacity for growth as a player. “He might never do that again,” said Kevin Hatchard on the World Feed comms. Respectfully Kev, I hope he does, and I hope his coach encourages him to try that again.

The goal also served to be the release valve in terms of the result.

 Dortmund were 2-1 up thanks to strikes from Niclas Füllkrug (his first for Dortmund) and Marco Reus (very much not his first). Andrej Kramarić scored the equaliser a 1-0 and Hoffenheim had put Dortmund under pressure and the second half drew to a close, as they pushed for another leveller. Borussia were feeling the heat thanks in no small part to Ramy Bensebaïni whose quick-fire double yellow sent him to the locker room on 71 minutes. The second yellow was for kicking the ball away which is annoying, to say the least.

So, Ryerson’s spectacular intervention wasn’t just good for the socials but a timely goal to seal the win.

Borussia could have played better. They are still not at their best. But Hoffenheim are a good side and to produce a result when you’re underperforming is both satisfying and encouraging. For a short while, Borussia Dortmund were top of the league.

Before we move on to the next section, it’s worth mentioning the performances of Nico Schlotterbeck who made timely interceptions and tackles in defence and deep, lying midfielder Salih Özcan. An under-appreciated number 6 who has played well since being brought into the starting lineup for the last two games.

Massive props once again to former captain Marco Reus: his second start and he scored again. At 34 he may need to go back to his intended role as an impact player but when Dortmund needed him, he has delivered.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga

· While the Premier League was losing its collective heads over the latest refereeing controversy, a ding-dong of a football match was happening between RB Leipzig and Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich. HKBM have to come back from 2-0 down to draw the match 2-2. Luis Openda and Castillo Lukeba put the home side in front in the first half only for Harry Kane to score from a handball penalty and Leroy Sane who has been great in the number 10 role so far this season.

· Stuttgart won yet again but they didn’t need Serhou Guirassy to score any goals this time. Deniz Undav was on the mark, twice in a 2-0 win at Köln.

· Mainz lost again. This time to Bayer Leverkusen, 3-0. The win for Leverkusen kept them on top of the table by the end of the matchday and the 05ers resolutely at the bottom with a single point.

· Borussia Monchengladbach finally won a game: their 3-1 win at home to Bochum alleviates the pressure on coach Gerardo Seoane and puts the visitors into the bottom three.

· For Jonas Wind goalscoring is a breeze. He has scored two to add to his season tally of seven in Wolfsburg’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

· SC Freiburg returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Augsburg.

· The newly promoted teams are defying pore-season wisdom. Darmstadt hammered Werder 4-2 and Heidenheim beat Union Berlin 1-0.

The Berlin are clearly struggling to field two teams a week. That was their fifth consecutive loss in the Bundesliga and Champions League. They host Braga on the latter competition this week before travelling to Dortmund on Saturday.

Up next: AC Milan in The Champions League

Only a 5-1 defeat to rivals Inter kept second place Milan from the top spot of the Serie A. Otherwise they are 100% for the rest of the domestic season. The Rossoneri have scored 15 goals in seven games this season and are third in the XG table. Their top scorer the evergreen Olivier Giroud. Stefano Pioli’s team will be a good measure of how much Dortmund are improving. However, if BVB play with the lack of energy as they did in Paris then it could be a long night. The difference being that Borussia are at home and you would expect the crowd to respond in a fashion that is appropriate for a big Champions League night against European royalty.