(Football news) Dortmund managed to get a narrow 1-0 victory over VFL Bochum and they have an advantage with a game in hand. Borussia Dortmund had top striker Erling Haaland making a comeback from injury as they cut the gap to Bundesliga leaders to seven points with a game in hand. Marius Wolf early on tapped in a Thorgan Hazard cutback for the winner in the 21st minute with Donyell Malen coming close twice hitting the woodwork. Either way it was a largely one-sided game and Dortmund comfortably defended their slender lead.
After last week's draw with Augsburg and followed by their disappointing Europa League exit, the win was much-needed for under pressure coach Marco Rose. Dortmund moved to 53 points, with Bayern on 60. Dortmund can further cut the gap to 4 points on Wednesday when they meet Mainz 05 in a match postponed from last week because of COVID-19 cases in the Mainz team.
Bayern, coming off a 7-1 victory over RB Salzburg in the Champions League round of 16 were expected to easily beat Hoffenhiem but were surprised with a 1-1 draw. The Bavarians, chasing a record-extending 10th consecutive league crown had drawn with Bayer Leverkusen last week and had only won two of their last five league matches were hoping to carry the same confidence into the game but It was the hosts who took the lead through Christoph Baumgartner's volley at the far post in the 32nd minute.
Bayern responded strongly as Thomas Muller twice put the ball in the net only to be deemed offside but his side had to wait until first half stoppage time to bag the equaliser. Robert Lewandowski smartly headed in a Joshua Kimmich’s corner on the stroke of half time for his 29th goal of the season. In the second half, the reigning champions made a lot of chances but couldn’t get past the brilliant Oliver Baumann. Bayern are on 60 points from 26 matches, with second placed Borussia Dortmund, on 53 from 25 and have a chance to reduce the gap to 4 points if they win against Mainz on Wednesday
"In the end it is a bit disappointing not to go home with the three points, For the neutral fan sitting on the couch it was a really nice game to watch. Luck was not always on our side with offside decisions when we did put the ball in the net" Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer said.
Also read: Serie A: AC Milan extend their lead as Inter again drop points
The other results were:
- SC Freiburg 3 (Grifo x2, Schlotterbeck) – 2 Wolfsburg (Kruse, Arnold)
- Union Berlin 1 (Awoniyi) – 1 VFB Stuttgart (Kalajdzic)
- Monchengladbach 2 (Plea, Ginter) – 0 Hertha
- Leverkusen 0 – 1 FC Koln (Schindler)
- Furth 1 (Leweling) – 6 RB Leipzig (Silva, Forsberg, Laimer, Henrichs, Simakan, Nkunku)
