Good evening, and welcome to
Sports Mole's live commentary from the
Champions League where
Borussia Dortmund host
Marseille at the Westfalenstadion in Group F.
I cannot wait for this. It should be a cracking match between two great sides in the toughest group of the draw. Both lost their opening matches, so they will be desperate to get off the mark this evening.
Dortmund, who were beaten in the final by rivals Bayern Munich, got off to a bad start by losing at Napoli two weeks ago. They had goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller sent off for handballing the ball outside the box, which resulted in manager Jurgen Klopp losing his rag and racking up a touchline ban in the process.
Marseille, who didn't even qualify for the tournament last year, were beaten by Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Stade Velodrome. They played some nice stuff that night, but boss Elie Baup has outlined that his side will do all they can to take a win away from Germany tonight.
While Dortmund will be the favourites for the match, history certainly favours Marseille in this match. Les Phoceens are unbeaten against the Germans and recovered from being two goals down to win the last time they made the trip to the Westfalenstadion in 2011.
More on the story that Klopp won't be on the sidelines tonight. Zeljko Buvac, his assistant, will be in charge from the moment Dortmund arrive at the stadium, with Klopp being forced to watch from the stands. It may just be the one game that the boss is being punished for, but Klopp is not happy with himself.
Klopp: "It really wasn't on. I won't even forgive myself for that, and it's not something you can just forget about so easily.
"You've got to be punished for things like that, and that's totally fine. I'll follow it from high up and will at least get something out of the game, being a good view.
"Missing one game on the sidelines is not a major thing. If they'd removed me from the training ground for a week before, then that would have been worse to be honest."
In the other dugout, Marseille boss Elie Baup has made it clear that his side will do everything it takes to get the win, having lost their Group F opener.
Baup: "The problem was that we weren't rewarded with a result. We just need to keep playing our game and get the best out of ourselves.
"We really want to express our full potential and we won't hold back. The best apprenticeship is to give everything you've got, and our objective is to leave the pitch with no regrets."
So that's what the bosses think, and we'll bring you the team news shortly.
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Right, now for the lineups.
DORTMUND XI: Langerak, Grosskreutz, Subotic, Hummels, Durm, Bender, Sahin, Blaszczykowski, Reus, Aubameyang, Lewandowski
So Dortmund make two changes to the team who smashed Freiburg at the weekend.
The suspended Roman Weidenfeller and Henrikh Mkhitaryan both miss out on a place in the starting lineup, with Mitchell Langerak and Jakub Blaszczykowski being drafted into the team.
Marseille will certainly know all about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who left Saint-Etienne in the summer after a brilliant spell for Les Verts. Baup's men will certainly be aware of how dangerous he in.
Here is the away team this evening.
MARSEILLE XI: Mandanda, Fanni, Nikoulou, Lucas Mendes, Mendy, Romao, Imbula, Payet, Valbuena, A. Ayew, Khalifa
Elie Baup makes one change to his side that beat Lorient in Ligue 1 at the weekend.
Jordan Ayew has dropped out of the team, with Saber Khalifa being brought in up front.
The teams are out at the Westfalenstadion.
Dortmund are sporting their yellow home kits with black sleeves and socks. Meanwhile, Marseille are donning their all-white first strip.
KICK OFF! The match is underway.
CHANCE! Early opportunity for Dortmund, as Aubameyang dribbles forward before being tackle on the edge of the box. The ball drops to Reus just a few yards behind him, who blasts an effort first time that swerves away from the top corner. Nice technique though from Reus.
All the attacking possession is with Dortmund at the moment, but they are yet to test Mandanda in the Marseille goal.
Marseille feel they should have a penalty as Khalifa is played into the box before going down under the challenge of Subotic. At first glance, it looks as if he is tripped, but the referee takes no action.
Going back to the penalty appeal, and it really did look as if Durm had tripped Khalifa. The striker is already looking more effective than Jordan Ayew has as of late.
Not a lot to report in the last few minutes. Dortmund have had more possession and have been through on goal a couple of times, but only for the linesman's flag to go up on the sideline.
Marseille have been awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which Valbuena floats into the area. However, Dortmund can easily clear and now break.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Marseille (Robert Lewandowski)
What a brilliant goal this is from Dortmund on the counter. Reus runs forward with the ball and the German has a whole host of teammates in support. He plays it from the centre to the right, where Aubameyang scoops it to the far side of the box. Blaszczykowski threads a pass into the edge of the six-yard box where the Polish striker taps in. Brilliant goal.
SAVE! Marseille nearly find an instant leveller as they are awarded a free kick on the right. Valbuena has a go for goal towards the near bottom corner, but Langerak pulls off a smart stop.
Shot from range by Payet centrally, but it bounces comfortably into the path of Langerak.
Dortmund are still looking comfortable, they can hit Marseille so quick on the break due to their superior pace. The French club need to get main man Valbuena on the ball a bit more, if they are to draw level, their best chance is through him.
Still nothing in the way of new chances to report on. Lots of pretty play and passing but neither keeper has been forced into action for a while.
Home fans are starting to grow a tad frustrated after the referee blows up against Dortmund twice in the space of a minute.
Mandanda is forced to make a relatively comfortable catch as Dortmund come forward. The ball falls to Sahin 30 yards from goal and he drills an effort towards the back of the net, but it is straight down the throat of Mandanda.
Aubameyang has played well for the hosts so far tonight. He's got forward at every opportunity and is causing Marseille all sorts of problems with his pace. He's obviously keen to remind Les Phoceens of his talents.
Dortmund think they have doubled the lead as Lewandowski slams the ball into the back of the net from close range. However, the flag is up on the nearside after Reus was deemed offside when nodding down the long pass into Lewandowski.
We will have one more minute of added time.
HALF TIME: Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Marseille
Good half from the hosts who are deservedly ahead. Robert Lewandowski is the man with the goal, and it came during a spectacular counter-attack.
DOrtmund have been on top for the vast majority of this match and their passing has been clinical combined with their speed in attack. Their only concern will be that they are only one goal to the good.
Meanwhile, Marseille have barely had a sniff at goal. Valbuena forced a good stop from Langerak at a free kick, but that has been about it in terms of chances. They aren't looking too impressive.
Dortmund area back out on the field, and we just await Marseille.
And here come the French outfit, right on cue.
KICK OFF! The game is back underway.
Neither side has made any changes, but I'm sure that Baup will have had a serious word with his Marseille players. As for Klopp, well, he can't do anything tonight!
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Marseille (Marco Reus)
I had initially given this as a goal for Aubameyang, but the accolade goes to Reus. His lofted free kick into the box evades everyone and Mandanda can't deal with it. He makes a late reaction stop but it isn't enough as the ball curls back over the line. Aubameyang smashed it in to make sure, but Reus will take this one.
There is still a bit of uncertainty as to who scored the goal, it looks as if Reus is going to be given it. One thing is for certain though, and that is that Mandanda should have done far better.
Dortmund are in cruise control now, and are just knocking the ball about casually.
SAVE! Mandanda keeps his side in the match with a great stop. Dortmund storm forward and have the numbers advantage. The ball is knocked to the left of the area where Durm meets it in space, but his side-foot effort towards the far corner is well saved by the French keeper.
Aubameyang is causing problems again for Marseille and should punish them more here. He dribbles the ball to the edge of the box before getting his foot through it, but the shot was always rising.
YELLOW CARD Neven Subotic goes into the book for pulling back Valbuena.
YELLOW CARD Valbuena has again been brought down. This time Sven Bender goes into the book for catching the Frenchman in the stomach with studs up. It was dangerous but unintentional.
YELLOW CARD Dear me, you wait all match for a yellow and three come at once. Rod Fanni is the latest to be punished after tugging down Lewandowski on the wing.
Looks as if Jakub Blaszczykowski is coming on shortly.
DORTMUND CHANGE Blaszczykowski enters the fray for the hosts, in place of the impressive Aubameyang.
This is only ending one way. Marseille look miles away from getting a single goal, never mind repeating their comeback from the last time they came here. They would need to get the ball off of Dortmund first.
Dortmund take a corner from the right, which is headed into the ground by Sahin and into the arms of Mandanda.
MARSEILLE CHANGE Payet, who has barely been noticeable, is replaced by Lemina.
YELLOW CARD Nkoulou enters the book for bundling over Lewandowski. Clumsy challenge from him.
Fanni makes a crucial header away from Blaszczykowski's cross on the right with Lewandowski lurking at the far post.
PENALTY TO DORTMUND!
Dortmund have the chance to kill the game here as Nkoulou brings down Reus, who beats three players to make his way into the box. Lewandowski to take.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Marseille (Robert Lewandowski
It's all over now. Lewandowski grabs his second of the match by smashing his penalty down the middle.
MARSEILLE CHANGE Jordan Ayew comes on in place of Valbuena.
DORTMUND CHANGE Jonas Hofmann is brought on for the hosts in place of Reus.
SAVE! Mandanda stops a fourth goal after denying a low shot from the right of the box with his legs.
DORTMUND CHANGE Mkhitaryan is on for Sokratis
We will have three minutes of added time.
FULL TIME: Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Marseille
Well, that was relatively straightforward for the hosts, who get off the mark in the Champions League for this season.
Robert Lewandowski netted either side of a Marco Reus free kick to complete a 3-0 victory that always looked to be happening. Dortmund now go joint second in the group with Serie A outfit Napoli.
Marseille played well against Arsenal two weeks ago, but they were very poor here tonight. They look to be in trouble.
Well that's it from me tonight, I hope you enjoyed the game. Until next time, goodbye.
Well that's it from me tonight, I hope you enjoyed the game. Until next time, goodbye.