Sébastien Haller's acclaimed return to the Bundesliga and a successful start to the race to catch up – Borussia Dortmund has new hopes in the fight for a place in the Champions League.

With the comeback of striker Haller, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute after chemotherapy and two cancer surgeries, coach Edin Terzic's team managed a hard-fought 4-3 (2-2) win over FC Augsburg.

After goals from Jude Bellingham (30th), Nico Schlotterbeck (42nd), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (75th) and Giovanni Reyna (78th) in front of 81,365 spectators in the sold-out Signal Iduna Park, BVB remained in sixth place in the table, was able to reduce the gap to second place to two points.

In contrast, the strong Augsburg remained without a win in the eighth game in a row and are only one point away from a direct relegation zone.

The team of the former Dortmund U-23 coach Enrico Maßen, for which Arne Maier (40th), Ermedin Demirovic (45th + 2nd) and David Colina (77th) scored, increases before the home duel on Wednesday with Borussia Mönchengladbach the pressure.

Unlike the two defeats before the winter break in Wolfsburg (0:2) and Mönchengladbach (2:4), BVB took charge from the start.

But despite all the effort, there was initially a lack of ideas and speed to shake the Augsburg back line.

Maassen's well-aligned guests only allowed Donyell Malen (18') a chance to score in the first 20 minutes.

Unnecessary ball loss

But with increasing pressure from Borussia, more gaps opened up.

Youssoufa Moukoko (23rd), who ended the month-long transfer poker game the day before and extended it to BVB until 2026, missed the possible 1-0 when he missed the goal after a pass from Julian Brandt.

FCA goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz was beaten seven minutes later.

England international Bellingham sent his opponent Arne Engels out with a body fake and hit the net from 18 yards.

This Dortmund lead was the prelude to a turbulent final phase of the first half.

An unnecessary loss of ball by Nico Schlotterbeck on the outside line brought FC Augsburg back into the game.

Maier took advantage of the blunder and provided a surprising equalizer when the guests had their first chance.

When Schlotterbeck made up for his mistake a little later and headed in after a Brandt free-kick to take the lead again, BVB seemed to be back on course.

But FCA hit back just as quickly.

Demirovic refined Engels' beautiful pass to make it 2-2.

Even after the restart, Augsburg remained an uncomfortable opponent for BVB and defended their own goal with great passion and skill.

That's why BVB coach Edin Terzic reacted and replaced the weak Moukoko with his long-missed fellow striker Haller.

But even the ovations of the fans for the center forward, who suffered from testicular cancer last summer, did not bring Borussia back to life.

Substitute Bynoe-Gittens gave her the lead again, but she had to accept the equalizer again immediately.

Only Reyna's shot, which is well worth seeing, ensured the lucky victory.