Haller helps Dortmund get past Bayern with goals against Augsburg; national title beckons

With one round of games remaining in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund is in pole position to become Germany’s champion for the first time since 2012. Due to Saturday’s home defeat by Bayern Munich against RB Leipzig (1-3), Dortmund needed a win at FC Augsburg and it came: 0-3.

Bayern became champions for the past 10 seasons, but now, with two points behind, they no longer have title prolongation in their own hands. New frontrunner Dortmund can finish it off next Saturday at home with a win over 1. FSV Mainz 05. Bayern will then visit 1. FC Köln.

At FC Augsburg in Bavaria, yellow shirts were visible in large numbers in the stands to witness the seizure of power. The pressure was great and the tension palpable. It certainly wasn’t easy for coach Edin Terzic’s men against a team still fighting for retention.

Netherlands international Donyell Malen was in the starting lineup at Dortmund as usual and was involved in a key moment in the match. The Dutch striker was pushed to the ground by Felix Uduokhai, which resulted in a red card for the Augsburg defender in the 38th minute.

With eleven against ten, Dortmund stepped up the pressure even more and it was waiting for the liberating goal. The post prevented goals by Niklas Süle (header) and Emre Can (shot), but in the 59th minute former Ajax player Sébastien Haller broke the spell.

After a cross by Malen from the right, the ball bounced off the feet of Augsburg defender Maximilian Bauer and Haller struck mercilessly. The French striker turned away and shot diagonally inside. Augsburg substitute Irvin Cardona made Dortmund tremble for a moment, but Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel prevented the 1-1.

In the 84th minute, Haller again brought relief to the yellow-black fans in the stands. He took advantage of a rebound after a Marco Reus effort was turned away. In injury time, Julian Brandt made it 0-3. One more win for Dortmund and Bayern’s hegemony in Germany is over.