Guirassy leads the line: African star shines as Dortmund crush Werder

After narrowly avoiding defeat at the start of the second half of the season (3-3 in Frankfurt, thanks to Chukwuemeka's late goal), Borussia Dortmund looked far more assured on Tuesday night in their first Bundesliga home match of the new year.

Werder Bremen posed some threat in the opening 45 minutes, but in the second half, they were almost non-existent (3-0).

Following a shaky first half, coach Niko Kovac made key changes: Niklas Sule was replaced by Emre Can, solidifying Dortmund's back three into an almost impenetrable wall. In the second half, Bremen's players had only one touch in Borussia's box, and just two more attempts from distance - hardly enough to trouble goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

The opening goal came in the 11th minute from Nico Schlotterbeck, who rose highest to meet Julian Ryerson's corner and power the rival's keeper. Schlotterbeck has been recently linked with a move to Real Madrid, adding extra intrigue to his strike.

Marcel Sabitzer doubled the lead in the 75th minute with a beautifully struck shot from 16 meters, and Sergio Guirassy, again powerful and lethal - like we're used to seeing him - completed the scoring after a costly mistake from Amos Pieper.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 17

Tuesday

Stuttgart - Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 (2-1)

/Demirovic 27, Undav 35, Nartey 87 - Kristensen 5, Ayoube 80/

Dortmund - Werder 3-0 (1-0)

/Schlotterbeck 11, Sabitzer 75, Guirassy 83/

Hamburger - Leverkusen POSTPONED

Mainz - Heidenheim 2-1 (1-0)

/Widmer 30, Amiri 48 - Schimmer 60/

Wednesday

20.30: (1.95) Wolfsburg (3.60) St.Pauli (4.20)

22.30: (1.90) Hoffenheim (4.00) M' gladbach (3.70)

22.30: (10.0) Koln (7.50) Bayern (1.25)

22:30: (1.80) RB Leipzig (4.15) Freiburg (4.30)

Thursday

22.30: (2.60) Augsburg (3.25) Union Berlin (2.95)

***odds are subject to change***