Champions League: Jude Bellingham leads Borussia Dortmund to victory

Besiktas 1-2 Borussia Dortmund, Vodafone Park (Montero 90+4' — Bellingham 20', Haaland 45+3')

Istanbul, September 16: It's tempting to say that Dortmund's away win in Turkey to start their new Champions League season was a sign of a side maturing. Marco Rose's side dealt with an intimidatingly loud atmosphere, reveled in the increasing completeness of Jude Bellingham, and just about did the professional job expected of them.

But this is Dortmund, a team perpetually caught between an exciting future and a competitive present. The moment a player excels talk of the departure begins. Haaland can't score without any mention of which Premier League team he'll be playing for next, and after tonight the same will be true for Jude Bellingham.

The first player to score and assist in the same Champions League game this season: 18-year-old Jude Bellingham.

And he did it in the first half. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/6xQctNQnHv

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 15, 2021

The English midfielder spent most of Wednesday night, demonstrating how he has added more attacking threat to his play. When the 18-year-old controlled the ball on his chest while moving into the box and then fired the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper it felt like a defining moment in his career. The truth though, was that this entire performance was a demonstration of ability from Bellingham.

After setting up Erling Haaland for Dortmund's second just before the break, Bellingham showed no sign of letting up. On the hour mark, he glided through Besiktas midfield with light feet before spreading the ball wide.

The attack came to nothing but everyone had seen Bellingham's movement. Six minutes later, he did the same in the box but was denied by Destanoglu Ersin. Even if Dortmund hadn't been wearing neon yellow, it would have been impossible not to notice the Englishman.

The same could be said of Dortmund. A solid away win with noticeable individual performances made for the perfect start and with it the idea that Dortmund might actually challenge in Europe dangled in the air.

But to believe that would be to forget who Borussia Dortmund really is. For the Bundesliga side this was a solid win and nothing more. For Bellingham it was the night the clock began ticking on his departure.

Source: DW