Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Borussia Monchengladbach – Jude Bellingham on target as Dortmund cruise to victory

Sebastien Haller hit a double and Jude Bellingham netted from the spot as Borussia Dortmund kept up their title push with an emphatic 5-2 win over mid-table Borussia Monchengladbach.

Donyell Malin set the ball rolling on five minutes with a simple close-range header before two goals in two minutes courtesy of a Bellingham penalty and a sublime flick from Haller ensured there would be no nervy evening for the home supporters.

Haller then rounded off a superb team goal with a near-post finish just past the half hour to put the result beyond Daniel Farke’s Foals.

Dortmund moved down a couple of gears in the second half and Gladbach were able to reduce the deficit in the final 15 minutes.

First, Ramy Bensebaini converted a penalty before substitute Lars Stindl curled a lovely strike into the bottom corner, but the goals came too late for the away side to set up a barnstorming finale.

Giovanni Reyna grabbed a fifth for Dortmund to round off the win deep into stoppage time.

The victory moves Edin Terzic’s side back to within a point of champions Bayern with just two matches to play. Monchengladbach remain in 11th spot.

Dortmund will now continue their push for a first Bundesliga title in 11 years at Augsburg next Sunday. Gladbach visit Bayer Leverkusen.

Talking point

Dortmund intent on taking it to the wire. Pressure? What pressure? Dortmund’s super-charged start meant many a TV may have been turned off early in Bavaria as BVB stayed firmly in the title race.

There’s no room for any type of slip-up from either side at this stage and it’s making for an exhilarating watch, particularly given how often Bayern have had a procession to the title over the past decade.

Dortmund will feel they have the fixtures to keep cranking up that heat with a trip to 13th-placed Augsburg next Sunday before finishing at home to Mainz, who are currently in ninth spot.

Bayern’s big test could come when they host Champions-League chasing Leipzig prior to concluding their push for an 11th straight Bundesliga crown at 10th-placed FC Koln.

It remains in Bayern’s hands – and they have a vastly superior goal difference too – but there could yet be a twist to come despite the emphatic nature of some of the recent results the teams have clocked up.

Player of the match

Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund). The 24-year-old Dutch forward continued his fine form in front of goal and had a hand in two others as he capped a high-energy, top-class display with plenty of end-product.

Player Ratings

DORTMUND: Kobel 6, Wolf 7, Sule 7, Hummels 6, Can 7, Brandt 7, Ryerson 6, Bellingham 8, Malen 9, Haller 9, Adeyemi 8. Subs: Guerreiro 6, Ozcan 6, Reus 6, Reyna 6, Moooukoko n/a.

GLADBACH: Olschowsky 7, Lainer 6, Friedrich 6, Elvedi 6, Bensebaini 5, Weigl 6, Kone 6, Hofmann 6, Neuhaus 7, Wolf 5, Ngoumou 5. Subs: Itakura 6, Kramer 6, Stindl 6, Netz 6, Jantschke n/a.

Match Highlights

05’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Malen nods in a rebound from close range after Olschowsky had dived to his right to attempt to save a Haller shot that deflected towards the opposite corner.

18’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Bellingham hits a rather tame spot kick to the keeper’s right but Olschowsky jumps past it and the hosts are in complete control now.

20’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Malen plays a delicious one-two down the right and cuts the ball back for Haller to find the far corner with a sumptuous back-heel flick.

31’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Borussia Moenchengladbach. One-touch play opens up the visitors once again. Malen spins right and crosses towards Haller’s who beats his man at the near post to turn the ball home.

75’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Bensebaini clips a penalty down the middle with Kobel diving away to his right.

86’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Stindl curves a lovely shot into the far corner from 20 yards out after a neat cut back from the left.

90+4’ – GOAL! – Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Borussia Moenchengladbach. Reyna tucks in from close range after the keeper made a mess of handling a tame free kick.

Key Stats

Dortmund have won each of their last nine Bundesliga home games against Gladbach. The Foals have taken just four points from their last 21 trips to Dortmund.

Malen was directly involved in 13 goals in the second half of this Bundesliga season (9 goals, 4 assists), more than any other player. Against Gladbach, he was directly involved in three goals in a BL game for the first time.