Chemnitzer FC vs. Borussia Dortmund: Winners and Losers from DFB Pokal

Borussia Dortmund marched in to the second round of the DFB Pokal on Sunday night with a rather comfortable 2-0 win over Chemnitzer FC at the Stadion an der Gellertstrasse in Saxony. 

Thomas Tuchel's side were widely expected to stroll to a comfortable win and, although two goals may not suggest a one-sided match of sorts, it was a clash in which the Bundesliga side had everything their own way from the very start. 

Karsten Heine's team may be frustrated at the lack of opportunities they created over the course of the 90 minutes, but in the end, it was a game that Dortmund looked composed and never really in doubt of losing sight of the task at hand. 

Here are the winners and losers from Sunday's game. 

Winner: Henrikh Mkhitayran

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

It's official. Tuchel knows how to get the best out of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Sure, we may only be a few weeks into the new season, but the Armenian international is already sitting cosy with four goals and three assists in just three games, according to Transfermarkt. 

There's no denying that the attacking midfielder has looked like a new player since Tuchel took over the reigns at Dortmund, and if he can finally add to his rather dismissive goal tally—as looks likely from these opening games—then he may well be on the cusp of becoming a very important player for the side.

Winner: Thomas Tuchel

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Although Dortmund have yet to come up against a sturdy test to question Tuchel's resolve, there's no denying that this new-look side have gotten off to a great start under their new manager. 

In Sunday's clash, they could have perhaps scored more goals, but Dortmund looked organised and well-coached across the pitch. 

Borussia Moenchengladbach will surely show us where this Dortmund side truly lie in the grand scheme of German football, but for now, their fans can rest happy with what they've seen from Tuchel and his methods thus far. 

Loser: Sven Bender

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It seems odd to pull up a certain individual with negative connotations in such a comfortable win, yet the slow, steady demise of Sven Bender in this side was again on show on Sunday.

Although the defensive midfielder never truly put a foot wrong against Chemnitzer, Tuchel wasted little time replacing him for Julian Weigl in the 72nd minute.

The young, technical talent who signed from 1860 Munich this summer has quickly won over his new manager's heart, and it looks as though Bender may have to make way for this emerging midfield star. 

Winner: Ilkay Gundogan

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Like Mkhitaryan, Ilkay Gundogan danced across the pitch on Sunday like a player born anew. Although the midfielder has always been a talented player, he has looked refreshed and ready to take on the world since Tuchel arrived. 

Again, like his Armenian colleague's, Gundogan's role in this team over the course of the coming season is nothing short of vital, and although a good performance against a lower league side may be very little to write home about, we're seeing all the signs that the new manager knows how to bring out the best in this talented individual.

If that is indeed true, then a large load can be removed from the troubles that rest on the shoulder of Dortmund fans this season.