- Borussia Dortmund kept their Bundesliga title hopes alive with a convincing 5-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday evening
- Dortmund, who face Augsburg next weekend, are one point behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund kept their Bundesliga title hopes alive with a convincing 5-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday evening.
The hosts were already 4-0 up in a dazzling 32-minute spell at Signal Iduna Park, thanks to goals from Donyell Malen, Jude Bellingham and Sebastian Haller (2). Borussia Monchengladbach pulled two back in the second half before Giovanni Reyna scored in added time to ensure Edin Terzic’s side got a convincing win.
Borussia Dortmund players celebrate. Photo/ theScore.com.
Donyell Malen has finally hit top form after a difficult start at Borussia Dortmund. Besides scoring the opener, the Dutch forward, who joined from PSV, assisted Haller on two occasions and will be looking to continue impressing in the remaining two fixtures.
Speaking after the match against Monchengladbach, Malen described the win as an important one in the title race.
“It was important to win, we know what title race we are in. It was a good win. We played really well as a team.” Malen told Sky TV, as per Daily Finland.
Sebastian Haller, on the other hand, said the team must check on their attitude towards the end of the game.
“We played really good. I don’t know whether we played like champions. Our attitude must be better at the end of the game. We got a scare.”
Borussia Dortmund opened the scoring at Signal Iduna Park after five minutes of play when Malen nodded in from close range. This was after Haller’s shot from the edge of the box got deflected.
The home team doubled their lead in the 18th minute, thanks to Jude Bellingham’s penalty which was won by Haller. The Ivory Coast international then showed Dortmund what they missed while he was away due to cancer by scoring an audacious backheel flick. He then added Dortmund’s fourth of the match in the 32nd minute via a swept right-footed finish.
Borussia Monchengladbach came back stronger in the second half, scoring twice. The first came from the spot in the 75th minute and the conversion was done by Ramy Bensebaini. Lars Stindi scored the second in the 85th minute to provide the visitors with some restored pride. Giovanni Reyna added Dortmund’s fifth a few seconds before the referee blew his whistle for full time.
Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Monchengladbach 5-2. Photo/ Eurosport.
Borussia Dortmund are currently on second place and have 67 points with two games left before the end of the 2022-23 Bundesliga season. Dortmund, who face Augsburg next weekend, are one point behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Bayern had earlier on Saturday put six past Schalke 04.
The results from Saturday fixtures left the standings unchanged. However, the Bundesliga title race remains so close to call and a mistake by Bayern could see Dortmund walk away as German champions. Dortmund remain hopeful to overhaul Bayern but that could only happen if the reigning champions slip against RB Leipzig or Cologne.
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