We dominated that first half, front foot, 11-0 efforts at goal - and Dortmund were also reduced to 10 men on 26 minutes when Daniel Svensson's yellow card for a challenge on Odobert was upgraded to red via a VAR review. It was impressive stuff against a team who has lost just three times – once in 18 in the Bundesliga – all season.
We kept the visitors at arm's length in the second half - Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani denied by Gregor Kobel - to make it four wins and two draws in our seven league phase matches - that means we're guaranteed a place in the play-off round, at least - with a place in the top eight, and therefore straight through to the Round of 16, still very much on the table as we travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in MD8 – victory there, and we’ll finish top eight.
Speaking to us afterwards, Thomas said: “The first half was really good, really happy with that. I think the way we started the game - so aggressive, so intense, so focused in every aspect, and we got the well-deserved 1-0 lead, carried on, tried to push for the second.
“Then the red card came, but we still kept the momentum and scored, actually, in every aspect, a very good second goal - probably a little bit of a triple touch from Dom, but very happy to see it go over the line for the team, but also for Dom. I think that was a big moment for all of us.
“In the second half, we had some big transition opportunities where we needed to kill the game with, also needed to keep the ball a bit better, playing 11 against 10. They changed a little bit their formation, but keeping the ball was a big thing. I think also there was a little bit of confidence. We all knew it was a big game to get over the line, and now we got the win and so many positives and need to build on that.
“I think the crowd was amazing. I asked the fans to please support everyone, to support the team, and especially the first half, you felt there was a little bit of that magic European night over it, so that was amazing to feel."
We started the game without 13 players – the bench packed with our Academy players, including Jun’ai Byfield, who came on for his debut in the second half – and Thomas indicated beforehand that a few players would have to ‘push through’ – which they all did admirably.
Thomas added: “It was very pleasing to see the way they did that. They were so forward, so focused. We didn't have that many players available, but everyone just pushed through. I think I said it to Xavi, he pushed through the pain to play, Destiny - first start (since early December) really pushed through that, Dom pushed as long as he could as well, so that was very positive.”