Champions Dortmund down Bremen to open 50th season

BERLIN (AFP) –

Dortmund’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski (C-L) and Werder Bremen’s defender Clemens Fritz (C-R) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match.

Defending champions Borussia Dortmund kicked off the 50th season of the Bundesliga on Friday with a 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen thanks to goals from Germany stars Marco Reus and Mario Goetze.

Dortmund and Bremen contested the first Bundesliga match back in 1963 and it was the same pair who opened the 2012/13 season on Friday night at Borussia’s sold-out Signal Iduna Park Stadium in front of 80,645 spectators.

New signings opened the scoring for both clubs as Reus fired home in the first-half for Dortmund, while Bremen’s Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie headed the equaliser 15 minutes from time.

But Goetze grabbed the winner for the hosts just three minutes after coming off the bench.

“The way it happened didn’t impress me or a few others, but the most important thing was to start with the three points,” said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

Reus said he was just delighted to have made his debut.

“I had goosebumps when I ran out and I am happy that I am now a Dortmund player,” said the 23-year-old.

Werder Bremen’s Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic (R) and Werder Bremen’s Czech defender Theodor Gebre Selassie (C) react after the German first division Bundesliga football match. Borussia Dortmund won 2-1.

“I think the opening goal was really important for the team.”

Dortmund last lost in the league almost a year ago when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Hanover on September 18, 2011, and this was their 29th game without losing in the Bundesliga.

They are just seven matches short of Hamburg’s record of 36 matches set between 1982 and 1983.

It was 1-0 at the break on Friday with Reus needing only 11 minutes to show his class.

Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski flicked the ball through for Reus, who joined from Moenchengladbach at the end of last season, to drill the ball into the far corner.

Reus was brought in to fill the vacant attacking midfielder spot in the wake of Shinji Kagawa‘s move to Machester United.

Bremen came back as new signing Dutch striker Eljero Elia was only denied by a fine save from Roman Weidenfeller before Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic slammed a shot against the post.

Bremen’s Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic (R) and Bremen’s midfielder Aaron Hunt celebrate after their team scored the 1-1 during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen. In the end Dortmund won 2-1.

After the break, Dortmund turned up the pressure as Germany defender Mats Hummels rose highest from a corner, but Bremen goalkeeper Sebastian Mielitz palmed the ball over the bar.

Dortmund were punished from some sloppy defending when Gebre Selassie put in a looping header over Weidenfeller on 75 minutes to give Bremen hope.

But the champions reacted by taking the lead again just six minutes later when Goetze slotted home the winner.

The 20-year-old gratefully accepted a pass from Poland striker Robert Lewandowski and held off the defence to score.

Bayern Munich start their league campaign on Saturday at promoted Greuther Fuerth, who will make their debut in the Bundesliga, while Schalke 04 are at Hanover 96 on Sunday.