Bundesliga: Jadon Sancho assists on return to Borussia Dortmund, says it 'was meant to be'

Jadon Sancho said “it was meant to be” after creating a goal in Borussia Dortmund’s 3-0 win at Darmstadt on Saturday in his first game since returning to the club on loan from Manchester United. Sancho rejoined Dortmund earlier this week on a six-month loan after a disappointing stint at United which saw him jettisoned by manager Erik ten Hag. But the England international set up a goal for Marco Reus only 20 minutes after coming off the bench. Dortmund were holding on to a 1-0 lead thanks to an early Julian Brandt goal against the Bundesliga’s bottom club Darmstadt when Sancho found Reus, who tapped in from close range. “I feel like it was meant to be, me coming back and seeing Marco again,” Sancho, 23, told Sky Germany. “He’s a great friend of mine… I’m happy to set up his goal today.” Youssoufa Moukoko added a third in injury time. Sancho said he “felt at home” after coming back to Dortmund. It was Sancho’s ninth assist for Reus and his 64th in total for Dortmund. Sancho first signed for Dortmund as a 17-year-old in 2017 and spent four years at the club, winning the German Cup in 2021 before moving to United for a fee of £73 million ($93 million, 85 million euros). Sancho had been frozen out at United for most of the season after becoming involved in a public spat with Ten Hag and had not played since August. “Just to be happy again, to be on the pitch and to help the team,” Sancho said when asked what were his goals at Dortmund. Reus said: “(He’s) simply a difference maker… in each game he’s good for a goal or assist. “I love it… Unbelievable to play with him and I’m happy he made his way back to us. “He hasn’t played for seven or eight months, the assist will give him some self confidence.” Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, who was interim boss in Sancho’s final season of his first spell at the German club said: “We’re all happy for Jadon. “What we cannot forget is we are talking (about) Jadon’s talent, but he’s still a young player, and he’s experienced a lot in the past few years. “He showed us we’re not finished with each other.” The win, Dortmund’s first in the league since November, took Terzic’s side to within three points of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who lost 1-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt earlier on Saturday. Frankfurt took the lead just seven minutes in, Ansgar Knauff slamming a brilliant curling pass from Niels Nkounkou into the net. Leipzig pushed for an equaliser but Frankfurt held on, consigning the German Cup holders to their first home league loss of the season. Union Berlin held Freiburg to a goalless draw, continuing their solid if unspectacular form under new coach Nenad Bjelica. Union had lost nine league games in a row prior to the Croat’s arrival, but have now lost just one in four to move three points clear of the relegation play-off place. Cologne missed a chance to move out of the automatic relegation zone, conceding a second-half goal to draw 1-1 with promoted Heidenheim. Strugglers Mainz fought from a goal down to draw 1-1 at home with Wolfsburg, picking up a valuable point to keep them in 16th, the play-off spot. Leaders Leverkusen grab late winner Exequiel Palacios scored in the fourth minute of injury time to earn Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0 win at Augsburg on Saturday, keeping them four points clear of reigning champions Bayern Munich. Bayern’s 3-0 home victory over Hoffenheim on Friday turned up the heat on Leverkusen. The visitors looked set to drop points for just the fourth time this season, but Argentinian World Cup winner Palacios controlled Alex Grimaldo’s cross and fired past home goalkeeper Finn Dahmen with only a minute of added time remaining. The goal may prove crucial in the title race as Leverkusen restored their lead atop the table, with second-placed Bayern having a game in hand. An “emotional” Alonso admitted: “I jumped a little (when the goal went in)… Our boys had belief to keep going until the end. “The goal wasn’t lucky, it was a reward for our good work in the game. But it’s only one win, we need to keep going.” On the first weekend of fixtures since Franz Beckenbauer died aged 78, each match began after a moment’s silence and a tribute to the German football legend. Leverkusen looked slick early, carving out several chances as they dominated possession, but lacked the final killer blow without injured striker Victor Boniface. Augsburg looked to have taken the lead through Phillip Tietz with 20 minutes remaining, but the striker’s goal was ruled out for offside and Palacios had the final say.