Despite having watched league leaders Bayern Munich blitz Revierderby rivals Schalke 6-0 earlier in the day, second-placed Dortmund waltzed their way to an unassailable four-goal advantage before the break. It started when Donyell Malen nodded home a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box, before the highly sought-after Jude Bellingham doubled their advantage from the spot. Florian Neuhaus adjudged to be the guilty party, with the Mönchengladbach man barging into the back of Sébastien Haller to concede the penalty.
Having won the spot-kick, Haller continued to impose himself on the contest, netting a quick-fire double to assert Dortmund’s dominance. The first came from an audacious backheel flick, with the former Ajax forward converting Malen’s drilled cross from the right-hand side. The pair would once again combine, almost in identical fashion, this time via a swept right-footed finish at the near post, capping off a stellar first-half performance for Die Schwarzgelben.
With the three points all but secured, Dortmund had little incentive to attack the Gladbach backline and aside from a flashed shot just wide from Julian Brandt, the home side failed to create a clear-cut opportunity. Instead, it was at the opposite end where the goal-mouth action took place, as Ramy Bensebaini netted from the spot to provide the visitors with some restored pride. Giovanni Reyna was unlucky to have conceded the penalty kick, after a 50:50 challenge was given the way of the Mönchengladbach defender, who strolled up to extend his 100% record from 12 yards.
It had looked as if Mönchengladbach would make those inside the Westfalenstadion endure a twitchy last five minutes, with substitute Lars Stindl adding a second from range late in the game. Instead, Reyna would find redemption from his penalty mishap, adding a late fifth to restore Dortmund’s three-goal cushion. It keeps the point gap from Terzić’s men to leaders Bayern at one point, with a trip to face Augsburg up next for Dortmund.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sébastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund)
