Borussia Dortmund's blistering start to the season under new manager Lucien Favre gathered momentum as the Bundesliga leaders consigned ailing AS Monaco to a 3-0 defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Dortmund's young Danish striker Jacob Bruun Larsen, brought on at the break after a mediocre first half from Favre's unbeaten high-flyers, broke the deadlock within six minutes before strikes from Paco Alcacer and captain Marco Reus heaped more misery on Monaco.
Jacob Bruun Larsen of Borussia Dortmund strikes the ball in the UEFA Champions League match against AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park, Germany, October 3, 2018. /VCG Photo
Dortmund's storming second-half display kept them at the top of Group A alongside Atletico Madrid, with both sides on a maximum six points, but for Monaco, who have not won any of their last nine matches, it was another low point in a poor season.
They are stuck pointless at the foot of the group alongside Club Bruges, who lost 3-1 at Atletico on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Larsen's neat finish after being picked out by a superb through ball from 18-year-old English prospect Jadon Sancho enabled Dortmund to relax and take control after a misfiring first 45 minutes.
Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund falls in the UEFA Champions League match against AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park, Germany, October 3, 2018. /VCG Photo
Alcacer hit the bar with his 69th-minute penalty after Reus had been brought down by Kamil Glik, but the Spaniard soon made amends by rounding substitute keeper Danijel Subasic to slot home the German side's second. Reus completed the comfortable win by slotting home the third from a narrow angle in stoppage time as Dortmund celebrated a ninth match unbeaten under Swiss coach Favre.
Monaco had started more brightly than the home side and came closest to breaking the deadlock when a fine 30-meter shot from Youri Tielemans forced an excellent acrobatic stop from Roman Burki. Alcacer curled a left-footer just wide for Dortmund and Marius Wolf brought a fine save from Diego Benaglio, who had to hobble off before the break due to injury.
Subasic came on for his first match since Croatia's World Cup final appearance after an injury layoff, but his return proved a tough one as Monaco made it 10 matches without a Champions League win.