Emre Can celebrates with Julian Brandt after scoring during the German first‑division Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig in Dortmund. Photo: AFP
Sebastien Haller and Marco Reus each netted twice as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Cologne 6‑1 on Saturday, propelling the home side to the top of the Bundesliga ahead of Bayern Munich. Donyell Malen and Raphael Guerreiro also got on the scoresheet, giving Dortmund a one‑point lead over Bayern, who travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Dortmund surged to a four‑goal lead in the first half through Guerreiro, Haller, Reus and Malen before Davie Selke pulled one back before the break – Cologne’s first goal in five matches. Haller, who has faced criticism for a lack of goals while returning from testicular cancer, latched onto a rebound in the 69th minute to record his first double for Dortmund. Reus added another just a minute later, sealing a thumping win for a Dortmund side missing several first‑team players. The victory marked a return to form after Dortmund’s Champions League elimination by Chelsea and a draw with derby rivals Schalke following ten straight wins at the start of the year. Dortmund’s next fixture is against Bayern after the international break on 1 April. Cologne are now winless in five, sit 13th, and are just six points clear of the relegation‑play‑off spot.
Earlier on Saturday, a second‑half goal from Erhan Masovic gave Bochum a surprise 1‑0 home win over RB Leipzig, dealing a blow to the visitors’ top‑four ambitions. Still reeling from a 7‑0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday, Leipzig looked listless in transition and toothless up front. Masovic headed home a loose ball three minutes into the second half, beating goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai had a late chance to equalise, but his shot struck the inside of the post and rebounded into the arms of Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann. Bochum coach Thomas Letsch praised the “outstanding” Riemann for helping his side hold on during a “wild last 10 minutes”. Leipzig boss Marco Rose called the defeat “disappointing” and lamented his team’s “failure to take (their) big chances”. Bochum’s second consecutive win pushed them four points clear of the relegation‑play‑off spot. Leipzig could finish the weekend as low as fifth place if both Union Berlin and Freiburg avoid defeat on Sunday.
An injury‑time penalty from Schalke’s Marius Buelter erased Arne Maier’s second‑half goal, resulting in a 1‑1 draw at Augsburg. Augsburg had been on track for their fourth 1‑0 home win in five matches, but Ermedin Demirovic was sent off midway through the second half, opening the door for Schalke. The draw extended Schalke’s unbeaten run to eight matches, though the visitors remain in the bottom two.
Two first‑half penalties from Andrej Kramaric and a second‑half goal from Ilhas Bebou propelled Hoffenheim to a 3‑1 home victory over Hertha Berlin. The win was Hoffenheim’s first since October, ending an eight‑match losing streak and moving them from last place to outside the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, a second‑half goal from Omar Marmoush gave Wolfsburg a 1‑0 win at Stuttgart, keeping their late push for European qualification alive.
AFP
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