Borussia Dortmund vs. Kawasaki Frontale: Takeaways from Pre-Season Friendly

Borussia Dortmund kicked off their tour of Asia with an emphatic 6-0 win over Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday afternoon. 

Thomas Tuchel certainly lined up his side in a different way from that of predecessor Jurgen Klopp last season and even included a few new faces, but it was the same old Dortmund on show, with their gung-ho style of play. 

Although such a match will go down as no more than an exhibition to build up fitness for the new season, there was still plenty for fans and critics alike to take from the match. 

Here are the key points to take away from the game. 

Kagawa Looks Sharp and Ready to Go

Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

Well it just had to be him, didn't it?

Yes, Dortmund have a number of star players, but it was their own Japanese sensation, Shinji Kagawa, who put Kawasaki to the sword in the opening half of Tuesday's game, adding two goals to his tally at the club. 

Kagawa enjoyed a strong 45 minutes playing behind the lone striker which saw him score an impressive headed goal in the sixth minute, only to perfectly place a tricky cutback exactly 30 minutes later. 

Although such performances have to be taken in context, Kagawa looked like his old self for the duration of his time on the pitch, giving a star showing in front of his home fans. 

Tuchel Seems to Be Leaning Towards a 4-1-4-1

Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

One of the notable features of Dortmund's setup on Tuesday was the manner in which Tuchel had them playing a 4-1-4-1 system throughout the match. 

The new manager had young signing Julian Weigl playing as the lone defensive midfielder with a flat four of Gonzalo Castro, Kagawa, Jonas Hofmann and Mitsuru Maruoka playing behind a constantly supported Marco Reus.

This altered very little in the second half when Tuchel changed the entire side, except for Maruoka, for like-for-like replacements. He used different players but the same system throughout. 

Tuchel Is Taking Dortmund Back to Basics

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

We've already mentioned the tactics Tuchel deployed in Japan on Tuesday but there's also something to be said for the style of play Dortmund put on show throughout the match. 

Although the Bundesliga side were playing a lesser side, the manner in which the front four or five players constantly applied pressure to their opponents worked fantastically well and will have reminded some fans of the glory years under Klopp.

Playing a simple, quick, closing-down style of football is hardly revolutionary in the European game, but it's one that has brought Dortmund plenty of success in the very recent past, and one to which Tuchel seems intent on returning.

Maruoka Makes Waves in Rare Start

Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

And finally, we conclude today's report with praise for Dortmund's other Japanese star, Maruoka, who played the entire 90 minutes of Tuesday's game and was ultimately rewarded for it with a fine goal. 

Played through by Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 59th minute, the 19-year-old starlet simply and casually passed the ball past the oncoming Kawasaki keeper to cap off an impressive afternoon which had seen the attacking midfielder pull the strings and run the lines for Dortmund fantastically. 

Maruoka may not be quite at the level to start nudging the likes of Reus or Kagawa out of the side, but with more performances like that, he won't be waiting too long.