Bundesliga: Title hopes alive for Dortmund after 2-0 win over Wolfsburg

Borussia Dortmund scored a objective in every half by way of Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi to beat hosts VfL Wolfsburg 2-Zero on Saturday for his or her sixth straight Bundesliga win to remain on the heels of leaders Bayern Munich.

Portugal worldwide Guerreiro tapped in a cutback from Thorgan Hazard after Erling Haaland had failed to attach within the 32nd minute, and Hakimi fired in from a advantageous Jadon Sancho help — his 16th of the season — within the 78th to verify of the three factors.

The consequence lifted Dortmund to 57 factors, one behind Bayern, who’re in motion towards Eintracht Frankfurt afterward Saturday. The Bundesliga resumed final week, with no followers in attendance, after being suspended for greater than two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels was taken off at halftime with a knock on the leg, though he didn’t look like significantly injured. They are already lacking injured Dan Axel Zagadou and captain Marco Reus.

“I briefly spoke to the doctor,” Dortmund sports activities director Michael Zorc stated. “Mats had problems with his heel. He has had them in training for some time. We hope that he will be able to play on Tuesday.”

The Wolves solely briefly received a look-in when Renato Steffen was despatched by way of proper after the restart, however with solely keeper Roman Buerki to beat his shot glanced the bar and sailed excessive.

They have now misplaced 5 consecutive residence video games to Dortmund, the primary group to do this at Wolfsburg, whereas Dortmund haven’t conceded a objective of their two video games for the reason that league restart. Wolfsburg, who suffered their first defeat in eight league video games, have been left with 10 males when substitute Felix Klaus was despatched off with 10 minutes remaining for a tough problem.

Plucky Paderborn maintain Hoffenheim to 1-1 draw

Dennis Srbeny’s equaliser helped plucky Paderborn seize a 1-1 draw of their Bundesliga conflict with Hoffenheim on Saturday, their second attract two video games since league play resumed after the coronavirus outbreak.

Bottom facet Paderborn, who secured a scoreless draw away to Fortuna Dusseldorf final week, received off to the worst potential begin when Danish worldwide Robert Skov netted for the guests after 4 minutes. Yet a dreadful blunder by Hoffenheim defender Ermin Bicakcic 5 minutes later gifted the ball to Paderborn’s Srbeny, and the striker curled residence for the equaliser.

The objective was Srbeny’s fifth in 10 Bundesliga outings since he joined Paderborn from Norwich City in January, with 4 of them coming in his final six video games. Skov, who scored his first Bundesliga objective for Hoffenheim towards Paderborn in November, virtually had one other within the 20th minute as he deftly lifted a ball over the onrushing keeper, nevertheless it was cleared off the road by Jamilu Collins.

Paderborn virtually went in on the break a objective up when Sebastian Vasiliadis pressured Sebastian Rudy and virtually compelled him to deflect a Gerrit Holtmann cross into his personal internet. With Christoph Baumgartner excellent in midfield for Hoffenheim, Paderborn’s energetic attacking was all too typically undone by free passing across the centre of the pitch, resulting in probabilities on the break for the guests.

Yet regardless of there being loads of probabilities in an open, free-flowing recreation, neither facet might handle one other objective, and Paderborn, who’re and not using a win of their final eight league video games stay backside of the desk on 18 factors, whereas Hoffenheim are ninth on 36.

Bittencourt objective helps Bremen overcome Freiburg

Werder Bremen midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt scored a superb first-half winner to seal 1-Zero victory at Freiburg on Saturday that reignited their hopes of staying within the Bundesliga. The victory, at an empty Schwarzwald stadium on the second weekend of Bundesliga motion for the reason that league resumed after the COVID-19 stoppage, helped 10-man Bremen attain 21 factors from 26 video games, boosting their bid to keep away from being relegated for the primary time in 40 years.

They went forward towards the run of play within the 19th minute when Bittencourt ran on to an outstanding cross from fellow midfielder Davy Klaassen and completed into the underside nook from distance for his third league objective of the season.

After Bremen midfielder Philipp Bargfrede was despatched off within the 88th minute for a second yellow card, Freiburg had defender Manuel Gulde’s late equaliser disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) as Nils Petersen was deemed to be offside.

“We had to win… and we gave it everything. After we took the lead we didn’t play as well as we’d have liked, but we’re delighted to have won here today,” Bittencourt stated.

The opener got here shortly after Freiburg ahead Roland Sallai missed a transparent probability within the 17th minute, dragging his shot huge after Petersen chested the ball into the Hungarian’s path. Winger Vincenzo Grifo’s free kick was acrobatically saved out early within the contest by Jiri Pavlenka and the Bremen goalkeeper was known as into motion once more after the hour-mark, as he made a advantageous diving save to disclaim Nicolas Hoefler.

The hosts grew pissed off because the match wore on, with Bremen defending deep and in numbers to make sure their fifth win of the season and first since January. Freiburg, who had a stoppage-time objective dominated out by VAR for offside within the 1-1 draw towards RB Leipzig final outing, have been left to rue their unhealthy luck once more. They remained on 37 factors from 27 video games.

Havertz brace takes spectacular Leverkusen third

Kai Havertz scored a brace for the second match in a row to steer Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach as they leap-frogged their opponents to go third within the Bundesliga on Saturday.

As with all Bundesliga matches for the reason that coronavirus outbreak, the sport was performed behind closed doorways however the stands have been brightened by round 20,000 cutouts of actual Gladbach followers, who had paid 19 euros ($20.71) every to have their cardboard photographs positioned within the stadium.

After beating Werder Bremen 4-1 of their first recreation again for the reason that coronavirus stoppage, Leverkusen received off the mark within the seventh minute. Gladbach misplaced possession in midfield, the ball was performed huge to Karim Bellarabi and he discovered Havertz who slotted it previous Yann Sommer for his ninth league objective of the season.

The Foals levelled seven minutes after the restart when Ramy Bensebaini chipped the ball over the Leverkusen defence and Marcus Thuram waited for it to drop earlier than firing a first-time shot previous Lucas Hradecky. Six minutes later, Leverkusen regained the lead with a penalty. Bellarabi broke away down the correct and fired throughout the face of the objective however was felled by Nico Elvedi’s sliding problem.

The referee pointed to the spot, confirmed his resolution after an extended VAR assessment and Havertz transformed regardless of Sommer getting a hand to the ball. Sven Bender headed in a 3rd from a free kick within the 81st minute to depart Leverkusen third with 53 factors, one forward of Gladbach, who dropped to fourth, and 4 behind second-placed Dortmund.