Dortmund do it the hard way

Borussia Dortmund survived a scare to start the defence of their Bundesliga title with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen.

Borussia Dortmund survived a scare to start the defence of their Bundesliga title with a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen at the Westfalenstadion. Marco Reus gave the home team a flying start with the opening goal in the 11th minute, but Dortmund failed to add to their lead and deservedly conceded an equaliser from Theodor Gebre Selassie in the 75th minute. Mario Gotze then pinched a winner in the 81st minute as Dortmund started the 50th Bundesliga season like they ended the last one - with a win. Dortmund had conceded early goals to Bremen in a pre-season friendly while they were caught cold twice by Bayern Munich in the Supercup a fortnight ago and their coach Jurgen Klopp was keen to make a better start to this game. He got his wish when Reus put the defending champions in front after 11 minutes with a goal on his Bundesliga debut for his home-town club. He pounced while Aleksandar Ignjowski dallied on the edge of his own penalty area and the Germany international slotted his shot into the far corner of Sebastian Mielitz's goal. Eljero Elia missed a great chance to make an equally impressive start to his debut at the other end, but Roman Weidenfeller stood up to him and blocked the former Hamburg and Juventus striker's effort in the 18th minute. The chance lifted Bremen, though, and they enjoyed the better of the first half with Dortmund unable to make much of an impression. The Westphalians continued to lack their usual zest in the second half and Bremen unsurprisingly levelled in the 75th minute, just as the game was turning stale. A sweeping cross from the left did not go behind the goalline, despite Weidenfeller's claim, and it finally made its way out to Marko Arnautovic, who lifted a perfectly-weighted ball into the danger area where Gebre Selassie leapt the highest to guide it into the far corner with his head. Gotze was brought on by Klopp and the move soon paid dividends. The Germany international restored Dortmund's lead five minutes later with a shot inside Mielitz's near post after being set up by Robert Lewandowski. Nils Petersen wasted a good chance to bring Bremen level again in the 85th minute, but Dortmund managed to hold on to the three points.