Ten-man Borussia Dortmund moved back up into the top four with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion, extending their unbeaten away run in the Bundesliga to eight games.Die Werderaner came into this clash looking to keep their European aspirations alive against a Dortmund side aiming to move back up into the Champions League qualification places. Bremen quickly came out of the traps, and Marvin Ducksch would have rued his decision not to square the ball to the unmarked Justin Njinmah in space, instead chipping the ball straight into Gregor Kobel’s grasp.If only goals were points! Kane & Co carpet-bomb Mainz to let all the anger outDortmund gradually grew into the contest though, and they took the lead in brilliant fashion courtesy of Donyell Malen. He reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box, as Michael Zetterer parried Julian Brandt’s long-range effort straight at the Dutchman to provide a stunning acrobatic finish. This was Malen’s 11th Bundesliga goal of the season, marking his return from a one-match suspension in some style. BVB then doubled their lead following some sublime individual brilliance from Jadon Sancho. The 23-year-old scored his first goal since returning on loan from Manchester United, latching onto Brandt’s pass and weaving his way past Julián Malatini before applying a clinical finish past Zetterer at the near post. However, it was not all plain sailing for the visitors, with Marcel Sabitzer shown a straight red card for colliding into the back of Mitchell Weiser in first-half stoppage time.Edin Terzić was forced into a tactical rejig and replaced Malen with Mats Hummels in a bid to add improved solidity to the side following Sabitzer’s dismissal. This defensive shift seemed to invite pressure from the hosts, and Ducksch was inches away from halving the deficit with a first-time strike that sailed inches wide of the post after Romano Schmid brilliantly dummied Weiser’s cross from the right flank. The hosts halved the deficit to shred Dortmund’s nerves with a wonderfully crafted goal courtesy of Njinmah. Schmid laid the ball on a plate for the forward to slide the ball home in the 70th minute. Werder were ramping up the pressure, as Nico Schlotterbeck blocked Weiser’s effort from Ducksch’s free-kick in what was turning into a stressful end to the match for Terzić’s men.Ultimately, the visitors managed to hold onto their slender lead, leaving Dortmund with only one defeat in their last 11 league games. Meanwhile, Bremen are now winless in each of their last eight home league meetings with BVB, but Ole Werner will take plenty of heart from the way his side rallied in the second half and were unfortunate not to take a share of the spoils.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 25FridayStuttgart – Union Berlin 2-0 (1-0)/Guirassy 19, Fuhrich 66/SaturdayBayern – Mainz 8-1 (3-1)/Kane 13, 45+7, 71, Goretzka 19, 90+2, Muller 47, Musiala 61, Gnabry 67 – Amiri 31/M’ gladbach – Koln 3-3 (1-1)/Honorat 32, Hack 71, 73 – Alidou 7, 64, Downs 79/RB Leipzig – Darmstadt 2-0 (1-0)/Isherwood 3 og, Baumgartner 50/Augsburg – Heidenheim 1-0 (1-0)/Gouweleeuw 22/Werder – Dortmund 1-2 (0-2)/Njinmah 70 – Malen 21, Sancho 38/Sunday17:30: (2.40) Bochum (3.50) Freiburg (3.10)19:30: (2.10) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.60) Hoffenheim (3.60)21:30: (1.33) Leverkusen (5.50) Wolfsburg (8.50)***odds are subject to change***
