Dortmund Secure Third Position with Win Against Hoffenheim

Borussia Dortmund recovered from their exit in the German Cup against Bayer Leverkusen by securing a solid 2-0 victory at home against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The team earned the points with strikes from Julian Brandt and Nico Schlotterbeck around the interval.

This result allowed the third placed side to extend their advantage to five points ahead of Leverkusen who occupy fourth position.

"That result was really vital following the defeat on Tuesday which affected us deeply," Schlotterbeck remarked to DAZN.

"It leaves us with a positive vibe having widened the gap slightly from the others at the weekends end."

Dortmund are just one point off second placed RB Leipzig yet trail the dominant league frontrunners Bayern Munich by nine points after 13 fixtures.

Having struggled against relegation in the previous campaign Hoffenheim have shown marked improvement this term and entered the match sitting in fourth.

Dortmund could have gone ahead after 20 minutes as Karim Adeyemi set up Serhou Guirassy for a clear chance against Hoffenheims keeper Oliver Baumann but the forward tangled his legs and could not release a shot.

The home side finally broke the deadlock shortly before the break when Yan Couto surged along the right flank and delivered an excellent cutback for Brandt to finish from close range.

Pure joy

Dortmund added a second goal with 30 minutes left as Schlotterbeck steered his effort through a packed box and beyond the stretching Baumann.

Reflecting on video of his celebration the German defender described feeling "pure joy" and noted "I struck it cleanly."

Guirassy had an opportunity to seal a more convincing scoreline late on when sent clear but he lofted his effort against the bar.

The 29 year old forward has managed just one league goal since the middle of September.

Earlier that Sunday Yussuf Poulsen entered as a substitute to net an 84th minute decider helping Hamburg overturn a deficit to defeat Werder Bremen 3-2 in a heated encounter at home.

In Germanys first top flight Northern Derby since 2018 Jens Stage put Bremen ahead prior to the break but Albert Lokonga equalised during the second half.

Tottenham loanee Luka Vuskovic gave Hamburg the edge with a stunning no look backheel 15 minutes from time though Bremens Justin Njinmah responded shortly after.

Poulsen substituted in and struck two minutes later slotting a precise finish into the bottom corner his debut goal for the side.

The triumph moved Hamburg four points away from the drop zone with 13 of their 15 seasonal points earned at the impregnable Volksparkstadion.