Borussia Dortmund overcame RB Leipzig on Saturday night to go 4th on the Bundesliga tables. An Erling Haaland brace and a close range finish from Jadon Sancho was all the Black and Yellows needed to see off Leipzig on the night. Three points and 3 goals puts Dortmund above Union Berlin and Wolfsburg who are both level on 25 points. Borussia Dortmund began the day outside the Champions League places and needed a win to keep pace with Bayern Munich. Leipzig on the other hand would have leapfrogged Bayern with a win after the later lost 3-2 to Monchengladbach on Friday.
RB Leipzig 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
In what was a very entertaining high profile match, the two sides thwarted each other’s efforts in the first half. There were literally few efforts on goals as both teams kept each other at bay with clinical tackling and pressing. Just the one shot a piece to report in the first half. The visitors did very well to prevent their hosts from creating many clear cut chances but they were unable to keep the ball to themselves with too many unforced errors causing them to lose the ball to the opponents. Dortmund were forced to make a substitution just after 30 minutes as Emre Can replaced the injured Axel Witsel. After a tight battle in the first period, Dortmund came out with more intent in the second 45. Sancho raced down the left before sliding the ball through for Marco Reus to latch on to. The German international had a shot which was well saved by Gulacsi at his near post, and from the ensuing corner, Emre Can headed over from close range. The visitors continued to press at a high tempo and were soon rewarded for their efforts. Jadon Sancho, fresh from scoring his first Bundesliga goal since May, was on hand to grab his second league goal of the season from a superb team move. Haaland has acres of space down the right, he tees up Reus to his left and the later is quick to flick the ball superbly to the onrushing Sancho, who took a touch before firing past Gulacsi.
Haaland’s brace
The chances kept coming for Dortmund as Raphael Guerreiro and Haaland went close to adding a second, while Olmo struck the post at the other end for Leipzig. Haaland then got on the scoresheet in some style, dribbling past two or three Leipzig defenders before playing the ball to Sancho whose return ball is a delightful cross that Haaland could not help but nod into the back of the net. The big Norwegian then rounded up the scoring after a flurry of Dortmund chances. He was played in behind the defense by Reus, he raced on to the ball, taking a touch or two round the goalkeeper before calmly slotting into an empty net, his second goal of the night.
Started by Haaland, finished by Haaland. 🔥
Brilliant team goal from Dortmund to double their lead, but Erling Haaland is different gravy. 😳👏 pic.twitter.com/vfreKXLnmt
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 9, 2021
Leipzig pulled one back in the closing stages, but it was only a consolation. Angelino curls in a lovely cross into the area that Dortmund had trouble dealing with at the back post. Sorloth was on hand to smash in the loose ball after seeing his initial shot saved by Burki. Bundesliga Match Week 15 Final Scores:
Friday 8th January, 2021
- Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 Bayern Munich
Saturday 9th January, 2021
- Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Werder Bremen
- SC Freiburg 1-1 FC Koln
- Union Berlin 2-2 Wolfsburg
- Schalke 4-0 Hoffeinheim
- Mainz 0-2 Frankfurt
- RB Leipzig 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
Sunday 10th January, 2021
- Augsburg vs Stuttgart
- Arminia vs Hertha Berlin
