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Marco Reus (right) with his six and seven goals of the season
Photo: Revierfoto / imago images/Revierfoto
Borussia Dortmund won 3-0 (2-0) at Union Berlin and thus reduced the gap to leaders Bayern Munich, who suffered a 2-4 defeat in Bochum, to six points.
The goals in front of 10,000 spectators were scored by Marco Reus (18th and 25th minutes) and Raphaël Guerreiro (71st).
In the top duel on the 22nd matchday fourth against second, Union coach Urs Fischer had to do without four corona-infected professionals, Rani Kedira was missing yellow card suspension.
At BVB, Mats Hummels returned to the starting XI after the 5-2 debacle against Leverkusen, while Axel Witsel replaced Thorgan Hazard.
The basic pattern of the game became apparent early on: the guests from Dortmund tried to take control of the game by having a lot of ball possession, Union waited for mistakes in the 5-3-2 system in order to be able to play quickly forward.
So Sheraldo Becker had the first opportunity after a quick transition, but missed Gregor Kobel's goal on the left (4th minute).
A fine pass from Mahmoud Dahoud prepared BVB's lead – Reus scored through the legs of goalkeeper Andreas Luthe from a half-left position (18').
Shortly thereafter, Reus again: Dan-Axel Zagadou hit the ball forward from deep in his own half, Donyell Malen could not be controlled by the Union defensive with his speed and brought the ball to the Dortmund captain.
The rounded Luthe and pushed in (25th).
It was his seventh goal of the season.
The fact that BVB saved the 2-0 lead at the break was down to goalkeeper Kobel: he made a brilliant save in the 35th minute against Bastian Oczipka, who appeared in front of him.
After the change of sides, Union increased intensity and offensive efforts.
Grischa Prömel headed wide of the goal (48'), Becker shot wide to the left from a good 20 meters (52').
Dortmund focused primarily on preventing scoring chances, attacking they hit directly on their first opportunity in the second half: Jude Bellingham passed the ball from the baseline towards the six-yard box, where Malen initially missed before Guerreiro got the ball over the line (71. ).
Möhwald's goal is not recognized
Unlucky for Union: Kevin Möhwald's supposed goal to make it 1-3 was not recognized because in the immediate vicinity of the goalscorer Anthony Ujah, he elbowed his opponent Manuel Akanji in the face in a dogfight (73').
Möhwald and Ujah (85th each) missed the last chances for Union, so it was the second home defeat for Union this Bundesliga season.
For Union, the league continues next Saturday (3.30 p.m.) at Arminia Bielefeld, BVB will play the first leg in the knockout round playoff of the Europa League against Glasgow Rangers on Thursday (6.45 p.m.), before there are three days later to the meeting with the former club of coach Marco Rose: Borussia Mönchengladbach is a guest in Dortmund at 5.30 p.m.
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