Fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund eased past bottom side Darmstadt 98 3-0 away on Saturday for a winning start to the new year as Jadon Sancho set up one goal on his return for the Ruhr valley club following his loan move from Manchester United.
The England international had left Dortmund after four years for United in August 2021 but failed to hold down a regular spot and has made just three appearances this season after becoming embroiled in a row with manager Erik ten Hag.
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But he looked right at home as Dortmund earned their first win in five league games in the Bundesliga restart following a three-week winter break.
The visitors struck in the 24th minute following a superb solo run from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens as Julian Brandt finished the move with a low shot.
Dortmund were made to work hard for more than an hour with Darmstadt carving out chances and coming agonisingly close with a 63rd minute Luca Pfeifer point-blank header that goalkeeper Gregor Kobel blocked with a reflex save.
Dortmund killed off the game in the 76th minute when Sancho, who had come on in the 55th, was sent through and set up fellow substitute Marco Reus for an easy tap-in.
Youssoufa Moukoko then made it 3-0 with a fine move in the box deep in stoppage time.
Dortmund are fifth on 30 points, three behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who lost 1-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and 15 adrift of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.