BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund overcame hosts VfL Wolfsburg 3-0 on Saturday to make a flawless start to their Bundesliga season as last season’s runners-up RB Leipzig suffered a shock loss at Schalke 04.

New Dortmund coach Peter Bosz had promised attractive, attacking football and his team, who finished third last season, delivered on his Bundesliga debut.

There was more good news for Dortmund with Mario Goetze making his comeback after half a year out following a metabolic disorder and the Germany international set up 18-year-old Christian Pulisic after 22 minutes for the first goal at the Volkswagen Arena.

The absence of suspended Ousmane Dembele, who missed training last week amid speculation about a possible move to Barcelona, was quickly forgotten as Marc Bartra doubled the lead five minutes later against a dazed Wolfsburg defence.

With the Wolves cornered, Dortmund kept up the pressure and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, last season’s Bundesliga top scorer, added a third on the hour.

Dortmund top the fledgling table after defending champions Bayern Munich beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 on Friday through goals by new signings Niklas Suele and Corentin Tolisso, and a Robert Lewandowski penalty.

SCHALKE’S STATEMENT

Benedikt Hoewedes’ apparent demotion dominated the buildup to Schalke’s 2-0 win over Leipzig.

New coach Domenico Tedesco stripped the captaincy from the World Cup winner to goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann, but then he also kept him on the bench for the clash.

Nabil Bentaleb scored a penalty before the break and Yevhen Konoplyanka sealed it on a counterattack as Schalke delivered a statement with an impressive win.

Australia international Mathew Leckie made a dream debut for Hertha Berlin at the Olympic Stadium by netting twice in a 2-0 win over newly-promoted VfB Stuttgart.

An 84th-minute deflected effort from Andrej Kramaric gave Hoffenheim, who face Liverpool next week for a spot in the Champions League group stage, a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Germany international Nicolai Muller suffered an embarrassing knee injury as he hurt himself while celebrating his winning goal for Hamburg SV against Augsburg just eight minutes into the 1-0 victory.

Promoted Hanover 96 won by the same scoreline, with Austrian Martin Harnik scoring the decisive goal on 73 minutes against Mainz 05.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017