BERLIN, Feb 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – England winger Jadon Sancho is “in his
happy place” alongside Erling Braut Haaland as the Borussia Dortmund
teenagers look to continue their record-breaking form at Werder Bremen in the
Bundesliga on Saturday.
Dortmund head to Bremen chasing revenge for last month’s German Cup defeat
and three points to stay in the league title race.
Leaders Bayern Munich host bottom side Paderborn on Friday and third-placed
Dortmund trail by four points after last weekend’s 4-0 thumping of Frankfurt
when Haaland and Sancho both netted.
“I just feel like I’m in my happy place,” said Sancho, who on current form
seems certain to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for England’s friendlies next
month against Italy and Denmark.
“I just love football, if I had a choice I’d play every day until I’m 100
years old.”
Haaland became the first player to claim 10 goals in his first seven
Champions League games when he netted twice in Tuesday’s 2-1 win against
Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16, first leg.
It makes him the competition’s joint top-scorer this season alongside
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski.
Sancho was the other 19-year-old thorn in the side of the French champions
alongside Haaland as he constantly tested the PSG defence.
Both teenagers claimed Bundesliga records last month.
Haaland was the first to score a hat-trick on his debut as a substitute in
the 5-3 win at Augsburg.
Sancho then set his own benchmark in the 5-0 thrashing of Union – when
Haaland also scored twice – with the opening goal to become the first to
score 25 Bundesliga goals before his 20th birthday.
With 14 assists in Germany’s top flight, Sancho is level with Bayern star
Thomas Mueller for most goals created as they threaten Kevin de Bruyne’s
record of 21 for Wolfsburg, set in 2014/15.
“Playing behind him (Haaland) and with him is just a great feeling,” Sancho
told Bundesliga.com.
“I know where to find him and where he wants the ball, and he knows how I
want the ball played to me – so it’s a good understanding between us.”
Bremen are second from bottom of the table, five points from safety.
Dortmund are firm favourites, “but we have the opportunity to annoy them.
There are ways to take away their joy,” said Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt.
His team’s shock 3-2 cup win over Dortmund at the start of February was
their only victory in their last five games leaving Kohfeldt under intense
pressure.
“We are in a dramatic situation,” acknowledged Kohfeldt, who said his final
team talk is likely to be direct and “won’t include any polite phrases.” One
to watch: Giovanni Reyna
He won’t turn 18 until November, but midfielder Giovanni Reyna is yet
another teenager dazzling for Dortmund.
Reyna has been used off the bench in all five league games since making his
Bundesliga debut last month.
Reyna showcased his exceptional skills by beating three defender to become
the youngest goal-scorer in German Cup history with a stunning strike in
Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat at Bremen.
And it was Reyna’s well-timed pass which led to Haaland’s second goal
against PSG.
“In training you can see that he has something special. If you can’t see
that, you’re blind,” Dortmund coach Lucien Favre said of Reyna.
Key facts
39 – The total number of goals Haaland has scored for Salzburg (28), then
Dortmund (11) in just 29 games this season.
17 – The total number of assists Sancho has managed this season, 14 of
which were in the Bundesliga.
51 – The league goals Bremen have conceded, the most in Germany’s top
flight.
Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Bayern Munich v Paderborn (1930)
Saturday
Bor. Moenchengladbach v Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund,
Hertha Berlin v Cologne, Freiburg v Fortuna Duesseldorf, Schalke v RB Leipzig
(1730)
Sunday
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg, VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz (1700)
Monday
Eintracht Frankfurt v Union Berlin (1930)