A lesson instead of a football festival - the long-awaited return of the supporters did not help Borussia Dortmund to the hoped-for holiday and a sense of achievement over arch-rivals from Leipzig.
In front of 81,365 spectators in the Signal Iduna Park, which was sold out for the first time in over two years, coach Marco Rose's team had to go into the top game after goals from Konrad Laimer (21st/30th), Christopher Nkunku (57th) and Dani Olmo (86th). accept a bitter 1:4 (0:2).
Donyell Malen's goal (84th) was far too little for the home side.
Although BVB remains in second place, they lost what was probably their last chance at the title with a deficit of nine points to Bayern Munich.
On the other hand, the Leipzig team continued their high with ten competitive games without defeat and consolidated fourth place.
The speedy recovery of striker Erling Haaland, who was in the starting line-up just four days after suffering an ankle injury in the international match with Norway, should boost the game of Borussia, who were weak at the end of the season.
Buoyed by the euphoric mood, BVB got off to a better start and was already close to taking the lead in the 7th minute.
After a remarkable pass from Mats Hummels, Marco Reus appeared alone in front of RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, but played a bad pass instead of trying to finish himself.
The fact that Haaland just missed the goal just six minutes later after a mistake by Leipzig defender Mohamad Simakan was to take revenge a little later.
Because the previously inconspicuous guests managed to take the lead with the first chance.
BVB national player Emre Can lost the ball to Laimer in the build-up game and then left the Austrian criminally alone.
The midfielder used this to score a surprising goal from close range after a pass from Nkunku.
It was not to be the only mishap for Can, who was used as right-back.
He deflected a shot from Laimer into his own net for BVB goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and gave Laimer the first game with two goals in his 103rd game.
This early 0:2 deficit caused by two goals from Laimer caused the Dortmunders a lot of trouble.
There was little left of the momentum of the initial phase until the break.
There were hardly any attacks worth seeing against the now more stable defense of Leipzig.
Even after the restart, BVB seemed unsettled.
The sluggish play structure caused the opponent few problems and encouraged him to dangerous counterattacks.
This tactic paid off once again.
A nice pass from the outstanding Laimer initiated the 3:0 by Nkunku.
The game was decided in favor of Leipzig.
Dortmund's efforts to improve the result were occasionally accompanied by whistles from the stands.
Malen's goal came far too late for a turnaround, especially as a little later Olmo scored the fourth goal for the visitors with a wonderful long-range shot.