Frankfurt's European ambitions suffer blow in thrilling five-goal defeat to Dortmund

Frankfurt quickly found the net in their 30th Bundesliga fixture out of 33 this campaign, shocking the struggling home side with an early goal in the second minute.

Mahmoud Dahoud battled to retain possession near the edge of the penalty area before passing to Can Uzun, who curled a precise shot into the bottom far corner.

However, their brief rise over Freiburg to the crucial seventh spot in the standings did not last, with squandered opportunities from Marcel Sabitzer and Samuele Inacio serving as precursors to Dortmunds revival towards the end of the opening period.

With second position now merely a point of honour, the home team levelled the score as Julian Ryersons sharp low delivery from the right flank was converted by Serhou Guirassy at the near post, directing it into Michael Zetterers top corner.

Minutes later, the reversal was sealed during added time in the first half, when Maximilian Beier spotted an unmarked Nico Schlotterbeck amid the congestion, allowing the centre back to drill a low shot inside the distant post.

Frankfurt showed signs of recovery as the second half began, although Fares Chaibi was slightly offside prior to slotting the ball beyond Gregor Kobel.

Yet, prospects of a recovery were dashed when Beier delivered another cross from the left, enabling Inacio to score his debut goal for Dortmund by poking the ball past Zetter from near range.

This strike held particular significance as the possible start of a fresh chapter for Die Schwarzgelben, soon after Julian Brandt exited the Westfalenstadion for the last time in a Dortmund shirt.

A match that appeared destined for an easy home win faced a test when Ansgar Knauff set up substitute Jonathan Burkardt in the closing stages, but the away team could muster no additional response.

Dortmund overcame their patchy form of late to secure their position as the Bundesligas top challengers, reaching the 70-point threshold for only the second occasion in seven years. The outlook is grimmer for Albert Rieras team, aware that a Freiburg victory on Sunday would eliminate their prospects of competing in a prominent European tournament for the sixth consecutive season.