Dortmund were clear and deserved winners over Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park this afternoon, with a 3-0 scoreline arguably flattering on the visitors. After a frantic opening ten minutes, Ivan Perisic received the ball on the edge of the area from Kevin Großkreutz. The Croatian took a touch to drag the ball away from his marker before crashing it low for the opening goal.

Julian Schieber latched onto balls over the top from Perisic either side of half-time to score a brace to cement BVB’s place at the top of the goals scored table, with the club finding the back of the net 23 times in 8 league matches so far. BVB climb a place to 3rd, with a game in hand over leaders Düsseldorf.

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PREVIEW: Surman makes five changes from the team that beat Hannover 5-1 here a fortnight ago, two enforced through the injuries to Andreas Beck and top-scorer Robert Lewandowski. Julian Koch makes his first start replacing the former at right-back, while Julian Schieber gets the nod ahead of Viktor Fischer upfront.

Dennis Praet is rested after the international break and will start on the bench, while centre-back Neven Subotic also makes way. They’re replaced by Ivan Perisic, the league leader in assists, and Marc Hornschuh (pictured) respectively.

The spine of the team today – Sven Bender, Ilkay Gündogan, and Ivan Perisic – are the only three players who have featured in all eleven of BVB’s competitive matches this season.

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            Borussia Dortmund 3-0 SC Freiburg
                   Perisic 13
              Schieber 33, 74

                                                Att:77,743
  Bundesliga, Signal Iduna Park. Dry 9°C. Ref: P. Gagelmann

       BORUSSIA DORTMUND                 SC FREIBURG       
 1. Roman Weidenfeller    7.3  |  1. Oliver Baumann       6.6
22. Julian Koch           7.5  | 25. Oliver Sorg          6.8
17. Marc Hornschuh        7.5  |  3. Fausto Pinto    [Y]  5.7
 5. Mats Hummels (c)      8.2  |  4. Beg Ferati           5.8¹
 3. Marcel Schmelzer      7.3  | 28. Matthias Ginter      7.0
 6. Sven Bender           7.1  | 23. Julian Schuster (c)  6.6³
 8. Ilkay Gündogan        7.0¹ |  8. Jan Rosenthal        6.9
11. Marco Reus            6.4² | 18. Johannes Flum        7.0
24. Ivan Perisic       *  9.2³ | 35. Sebastian Freis      6.5
19. Kevin Großkreutz      7.0  | 14. Anton Putsila        7.0
23. Julian Schieber       8.8  | 20. Max Kruse            6.8²
------------------------------ | -----------------------------
20. Mitchell Langerak      .   | 36. Alexander Schwolow    .
 7. Viktor Fischer        6.2² |  2. Pavel Krmas          6.8¹
14. Taye Taiwo             .   |  5. M. Raimondo-Metzger   .
15. Felipe Santana         .   |  6. V. Eggen Hedenstad    .
18. Moritz Leitner         .   |  7. Cédric Makiadi       7.0³
26. Dennis Praet          n/a³ | 26. Erik Jendrisek       n/a²
28. Kostas Katsouranis    7.0¹ | 31. Karim Guédé           .

Match report by @realtimeFM:

“I think Dortmund have enough to secure a win here today. Freiburg will miss their influential midfielder Daniel Caligiuri. The key men for me today are Marco Reus up against Freiburg ‘keeper Oliver Baumann.” – Andreas Holtz, Dortmund Daily.

[00] The visitors get us underway at Signal Iduna Park as 4th-placed Dortmund host 8th-placed Freiburg. Dortmund won this 4-0 in February.

[06] Five played, BVB looking lively. Reus in particular. Julian Koch took a knock early on. Goals elsewhere for Düsseldorf and B.Munich.

[10] Freiburg starting to see more of the ball, Freis on the left asking Koch some questions. Hornschuh shaky early on but made a clearance.

[12] 1-0 DORTMUND! Großkreutz finds Ivan Perisic on edge of area who takes a touch away from his marker and drills home.

[20] Since the goal, Freiburg have barely crossed halfway. BVB continuing to get crosses in for Schieber, but no further breakthrough yet.

[30] Marco Reus has earned a goal with his performance so far and is a whisker away when Oliver Baumann tips his curling drive over the top.

[33] 2-0 DORTMUND! Freiburg bombarded with crosses, but in the end Route One™ works. Perisic to Julian Schieber, 18 yards out, goal.

[38] Julian Schieber rifles a high shot past Baumann from just inside the box but he’s thwarted by the assistant’s raised flag.

[40] After 39 minutes and 53 seconds, Frieburg muster their first attempt. Johannes Flum drills a daisycutter well wide from fully 30 yards.

Half Time: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 SC Freiburg (Bundesliga)

[46] Attendance today is 77,743. No changes at the break.

[50] Roman Weidenfeller make his first save, getting down well to hold Freis’s shot from 15 yards. Visitors gee’d up since the break.

[51] SUB Freiburg: Pavel Krmas on for Beg Ferati (5.8) at centre back.

[58] DOUBLE SUB Dortmund: Viktor Fischer for Marco Reus (6.4) and Kostas Katsouranis for Ilkay Gündogan (7.0)

[74] 3-0 DORTMUND! Perisic brings the ball over halfway and chips over the top for Julian Schieber who rounds Baumann to knock into an empty net.

[79] SUB Freiburg: Erik Jendrisek replaces Max Kruse (6.8) on the left of midfield.

[82] Fausto Pinto is cautioned for pulling the shirt of Großkreutz.

[84] SUB Dortmund: Dennis Praet for Ivan Perisic (9.2). Freiburg: Cedrick Makiadi for Julian Schuster (6.6) and takes the captain’s armband.

[89] Weidenfeller called upon to make a smart save and Freiburg win a corner. One added minute to be played here.

Full Time: Borussia Dortmund 3-0 SC Freiburg (Bundesliga)