Four days after losing the DFB Cup, Borussia Dortmund quickly made amends and kept its chances in the championship race of the Bundesliga.
On matchday 20, BVB won 3-2 (1-1) at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and thus also kept the big gap to the pursuers in the fight for the Champions League.
Striker Erling Haaland (6th minute) and captain Marco Reus (58th) scored for BVB on Saturday, where – unlike the 1-2 draw at FC St. Pauli – the result was right this time.
There was also an own goal from Hoffenheim's national player David Raum (66th).
Meanwhile, a week of maximum failure is coming to an end for TSG. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß's team lost three times in eight days, the 2-1 loss at Union Berlin and the 4-1 draw against Freiburg in the cup were followed by a defeat against the league runners-up, who were up to three points behind the champions for one night FC Bayern Munich is approaching. Goals from Andrej Kramaric (45+1), who scored his 100th goal for TSG, and Joker Georginio Rutter (77) were not enough.
The game started with Haaland, who only had to complete a dream combination via Jude Bellingham and Donyell Malen from a short distance.
A short time later, coach Marco Rose and club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke flinched for a moment when Haaland held his knee after a duel scene and initially remained lying on the grass.
For the Norwegian, who has scored an outstanding 16 goals in 14 games this season, things quickly moved on.
Consequential equalization
Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner, on the other hand, had to leave early after being hit in the head.
His substitute Rutter just missed the equalizer with a header because he failed to hit the post (11th).
Youngster Rutter later ran alone in the direction of the guest goal (40th), but then put it across again, whereupon Manuel Akanji cleared in dire need.
Defender Chris Richards headed the ball into the crossbar (23') and the dynamic hosts' chances increased more and more.
The equalizer by Kramaric just before the break was only logical, Dortmund had temporarily lost control of the game after the early lead.
The second half started with a slight delay because BVB coach Rose apparently felt an increased need to speak in the dressing room.
That didn't do much at first, because Hoffenheim still had the chances: first again through Rutter, who shot to the side netting.
Judging by the course of the game, Dortmund should have been behind by then.
But then everything turned out differently.
This time, BVB impressed with maximum efficiency.
Captain Reus scored after another submission from Malen, just a few minutes later Raum's unfortunate own goal made the decision prematurely.
Rutter's goal, who had previously missed numerous opportunities, did not change that.
Sebastian Rudy missed the chance to equalize in the 89th minute.