Serhu Gilasi’s late goal helped Borussia Dortmund beat Wolfsburg 2-1 on Saturday and cut the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to three points to resume their title race.
The defending champions are 11 points clear, but Bayern, which hosts Hoffenheim on Sunday, has drawn its last two games to open the door.
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Julian Brandt headed home Julian Ryerson’s corner kick at the near post as Dortmund made it five consecutive wins. Konstantinos Kulerakis nodded in the equalizer from a free-kick, but Gilasi’s goal in the 87th minute put the pressure on Bayern.
“We played well in the first half but were weak in the second half and we should have been marked,” Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterback told Sky.
“We suffered and made a lot of mistakes. But luckily we only conceded the ball once, which is important because the lads up front are always a threat.”
Borussia Dortmund’s Maxi Bell also hit the crossbar via a deflection. Fourth-bottom Wolfsburg also hit the woodwork and looked set to secure a comfortable win before fine work from Felix Nmecha and Fabio Silva set up Guinea’s Gilasi for his ninth league goal of the season.
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New Werder Bremen boss Daniel Thieuen lost his first Bundesliga game after Niklas Best scored his first league goal in a 1-0 home win at Freiburg.
Despite John Manzambi being sent off for a tackle in the 52nd minute, the home side held on and even had a second goal disallowed for a foul.
Former Hamburger SV and Fortuna Dusseldorf boss Thieuen replaced the sacked Horst Steffen on Wednesday, but Werder have gone 11 games without a win and have slipped into the relegation play-offs.
Heidenheim ranked bottom after losing 0-2 at home to Hamburg. Its city rivals St. Pauli defeated fourth-ranked Stuttgart 2-1 and continued to be ranked second from bottom, but only two points behind Werder Bremen.
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It was Stuttgart’s first defeat in eight league games and St. Pauli’s first win of the year.
Mainz, which had previously been struggling, beat Augsburg 2-0 at home thanks to two penalty kicks from Nadeem Amiri, moving up to 13th place.
Monchengladbach hosts sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen in Saturday’s match. Cologne will also host fifth-placed RB Leipzig on Sunday.
Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck celebrates with Serhou Guirassy after the Bundesliga football match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borusia Dortmund at the Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlid/dpa
Borussia Dortmund’s Serhu Gilasi celebrates his team’s second goal during the Bundesliga football match between Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at the Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlid/dpa
Mainz’s Nadeem Amiri (centre) celebrates his team’s second goal with teammates Philipp Titz and Sheraldo Becker during the Bundesliga football match between FSV Mainz 05 and Augsburg at the Mewa Stadium. Florian Wiegand/dpa
Hamburger SV’s Rayan Philippe (right) celebrates his team’s second goal during the match between German Bundesliga 1. FC Heidenheim and Hamburg SV at the Voith Arena. Harry Lange/dpa
Wolfsburg players celebrate their team’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at the Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlid/dpa
St. Pauli player Darnell Sinani (centre) celebrates his team’s second goal with teammates during the Bundesliga football match between St. Pauli and Stuttgart at the Miller Gate. Christian Charisius/dpa
Mainz’s Nadiem Amiri celebrates his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga football match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at the Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa
Hamburg’s Lansford Koenigsdorfer celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the match between Bundesliga clubs Heidenheim and Hamburger SV at the Voith Arena. Harry Lange/dpa
Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Brandt (right) celebrates his team’s first goal with teammate Julian Ryerson during the Bundesliga football match between Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at the Volkswagen Arena. David Inderlid/dpa
St. Pauli’s Manolis Salikas celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga football match between St. Pauli FC and Stuttgart FC at the Millermen Stadium. Christian Charisius/dpa
Freiburg’s Jan-Niklas Best (centre) celebrates his team’s first goal with teammates Vincenzo Griffo (left) and Igor Matanovic during the Bundesliga football match between Freiburg and Werder Bremen at the Europark. Philipp von Dietfors/dpa
Freiburg’s Jan-Nicholas Best (centre) scores his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between Freiburg and Werder Bremen at the Europark Stadium. Philipp von Dietfors/dpa
Mainz’s Nadiem Amiri celebrates his team’s first goal during the Bundesliga football match between FSV Mainz 05 and FC Augsburg at the Mewa Arena. Florian Wiegand/dpa
