Sebastien Haller and Marco Reus each scored twice as Borussia Dortmund thrashed Cologne 6-1 on Saturday, sending the house aspect top of the Bundesliga forward of Bayern Munich.
Donyell Malen and Raphael Guerreiro additionally obtained on the scoresheet as Dortmund moved some extent away from Bayern, who go to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Dortmund stormed right into a four-goal lead within the first half via Guerreiro, Haller, Reus and Malen earlier than Davie Selke pulled one again earlier than the break, Cologne’s first aim in 5 matches.
Haller, who has confronted criticism for an absence of objectives as he continues his return from testicular most cancers, latched on to a rebound after 69 minutes to chalk up his first double for Dortmund.
Reus added one other only a minute later to seal a thumping win for a Dortmund aspect lacking a number of first-team gamers.
The victory was a return to type for Dortmund who suffered Champions League elimination at Chelsea and stumbled to a draw with derby rivals Schalke after beginning the yr with 10 straight wins.
Dortmund play their subsequent fixture towards Bayern after the worldwide break on April 1.
Cologne at the moment are winless in 5 and sit thirteenth, simply six factors away from the relegation play-off spot.
– Bochum beat Leipzig –
Earlier on Saturday, a second-half aim from Erhan Masovic took Bochum to a shock 1-0 residence win over RB Leipzig, dealing the guests a blow of their top-four battle.
Looking to rebound after Tuesday’s 7-0 thrashing by the hands of Manchester City within the Champions League, Leipzig appeared listless in transition and toothless up entrance.
Bochum took the lead three minutes into the second half when Masovic latched onto a unfastened ball within the penalty space and headed past Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai had a late likelihood to equalise however his shot hit the within of the publish and rebounded into the arms of Bochum ‘keeper Manuel Riemann.
Bochum coach Thomas Letsch credited the “outstanding” Riemann for serving to his aspect maintain on in a “wild last 10 minutes”.
Leipzig boss Marco Rose known as the defeat “disappointing” and lamented his staff’s “failure to take (their) big chances”.
Bochum’s second win in a row pushed them 4 factors away from the relegation playoff spot.
Leipzig may end the weekend as little as fifth place ought to each Union Berlin and Freiburg keep away from defeat on Sunday.
An injury-time penalty from Schalke’s Marius Buelter cancelled out Arne Maier’s second-half aim to snatch some extent at Augsburg in a 1-1 draw.
Augsburg appeared on monitor for his or her fourth 1-0 win of their past 5 residence matches however had Ermedin Demirovic despatched off halfway via the second half to open the door for Schalke.
The draw extends Schalke’s unbeaten run to eight matches however the guests stay within the backside two.
Two first-half penalties from Andrej Kramaric and a second-half aim from Ilhas Bebou propelled Hoffenheim to a 3-1 residence victory over Hertha Berlin.
The victory was Hoffenheim’s first since October, ending a run of eight straight defeats, and moved them from final place to exterior the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, a second-half aim from Omar Marmoush earned Wolfsburg a 1-0 win at Stuttgart, preserving their late run in direction of European qualification alive.
AFP
Source: punchng.com
