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August 7, 2011

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Dortmund eases past Hamburg in opener

BORUSSIA Dortmund made a scintillating start to the defense of its German Bundesliga title as it outclassed Hamburg SV 3-1 in opening game of the new season on Friday.

Kevin Grosskreutz and Mario Goetze, two of the revelations as Dortmund's previously underrated squad won last season's title, scored in the first half as the hosts started where they left off in May.

Grosskreutz, 23, added the third early in the second half as the 80,000 capacity crowd was treated to some superb attacking football from the hosts.

Dortmund, whose starting lineup had an average age of just over 23, eased off after that and Hamburg, eighth last season, pulled one back through Robert Tesche.

"We played opponents today who were simply a class above us," said Hamburg captain Heiko Westermann.

Hamburg coach Michael Oenning agreed. "Borussia Dortmund today play in a different league, their passing of the ball was extremely good."

Dortmund shrugged off the absences of playmaker Nuri Sahin, who has been sold to Real Madrid, and injured Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios, its topscorer last season.

"For 70 minutes we played great football, then we let the concentration down," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "It's human, it's natural."

Bayern Munich, seen as the favorite this season, is at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach today when last season's runner-up Bayer Leverkusen visits Mainz 05.




 

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