Guirassy guides Dortmund past Atalanta in Champions League play-offs

Serhou Guirassy netted once and provided an assist as Borussia Dortmund secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta at home on Tuesday during the opening leg of their Champions League knockout play-off encounter.

Even with a postponed start due to a delayed team bus and only a single experienced central defender available, Dortmund dominated the game throughout.

The prolific forward Guirassy put Dortmund ahead with a header shortly after kick-off and then assisted Maximilian Beiers goal near the end of the opening period, handing the Bundesliga side a strong position before the return fixture in Italy next week.

"It was an ideal beginning but an unusual night," Guirassy shared with Amazon Prime.

"Traffic held us up for over an hour and we had just 10 minutes to prepare and take the field after arriving, so it felt great to score that header right at the three-minute mark."

Dortmunds midfielder Julian Brandt noted to the press that the 2-0 advantage remains "potentially risky" going into the Bergamo rematch, yet he commended the teams concentration amid the logistical issues.

"Things are clicking for us at the moment. We are handling tough spots well.

"We turned the pre-game tension into positive drive from the outset. It gave us an edge today, though we hope it does not turn into a regular occurrence," Brandt commented regarding the tardy arrival.

Atalanta made it to the venue promptly but appeared fatigued defensively and lacked cohesion going forward, deprived of injured playmaker Charles De Ketelaeres creative influence.

The aggregate winners will meet either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the round of 16, the duo who topped the league stage standings.

In spite of a current streak of six consecutive Bundesliga triumphs, Dortmund faced a backline injury crisis, sidelining Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Suele, Emre Can and Filippo Mane.

Manager Niko Kovac gave 18-year-old Luca Reggiani his debut senior appearance next to German international Waldemar Anton, the sole remaining central defender for Dortmund.

The home sides build-up suffered more from the late bus arrival at the ground, resulting in a 15-minute delay to the start.

Returning to sharp scoring touch following a prolonged goal drought with five strikes across his last three outings, Guirassy struck quickly to extend his run.

At the three-minute point, the Guinea international headed in a delivery from Julian Ryerson to open the scoring for Dortmund.

The lead doubled moments before halftime as Guirassy threaded a precise cut-back into the goalmouth for Beier to finish from close range.

Satisfied with their cushion, the home team managed the tempo effectively in the latter period, producing scant opportunities for both outfits.