Slavia Prague 0-2 Borussia Dortmund: Achraf double drags BVB to victory

Prague, October 3: Borussia Dortmund claimed their first win of the Champions League group stage this season after battling to a 2-0 victory away to Slavia Prague.

Results | Points Table | Fixtures

Achraf Hakimi struck in each half to settle a scrappy encounter in the Czech Republic and move Dortmund top of Group F ahead of Barcelona's meeting with Inter.

The brilliance of Marc-Andre ter Stegen mostly kept Dortmund frustrated against Barca in their opening match, but Wednesday's performance was more in keeping with recent Bundesliga draws with Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen, in which they surrendered leads to draw 2-2.

Jadon Sancho tested Ondrej Kolar within two minutes of kick-off as Dortmund made a bright start in front of Slavia fans bedecked in red and white rain ponchos to create an intimidating sight.

They were silenced 10 minutes before the break, though, when Achraf started a counter-attack from his own box, combined with Julian Brandt and, having skipped away from goalkeeper and covering defenders, fired high into the Slavia net.

Sancho's heavy touch made a mess of a one-on-one after the restart, as Dortmund's performance soon descended into the erratic, with one particularly careless Marco Reus clearance giving Petr Sevcik a chance he should have done better with.

Achraf was denied by Kolar on the break as Slavia pushed for an equaliser, but the Real Madrid loanee made no mistake with his next opening, firing between the legs of the keeper with his left foot with barely a minute of normal time left.

1 - @AchrafHakimi is the first player from Morocco who scores twice in a Champions League match. He also had the most shots of all @BlackYellow players (4). Rising pic.twitter.com/9rO0Zg768d

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) October 2, 2019

What does it mean? Dortmund unconvincing but on track for next round

The display will likely not please head coach Lucien Favre, but it was enough to move Dortmund to four points from two games and give them a solid platform from which to aim for the last 16.

Tougher tests await with two meetings with Inter and a trip to Camp Nou, so they will likely return to Germany with a sense of relief, as well as an eagerness to improve.

Achraf a surprising livewire

Achraf has always been a menace going forward, but he was Dortmund's most dangerous player here in an attacking role. His goals were expertly taken, and he could have had a hat-trick were it not for Kolar.

BVB's slack finishing cannot continue

Sancho wasted two openings and Reus could not reach a low cross for a tap-in, meaning Dortmund were far less comfortable than they might have been in the second half. They will have to be more clinical going forward.

What's next?

Dortmund head to Inter on matchday three, while Slavia host Barcelona.