Borussia Dortmund seized control of the Bundesliga title race on Sunday, following an impressive 3-0 victory against 10-man Augsburg. Sebastien Haller’s double and Julian Brandt’s stoppage-time goal ensured Dortmund climbed above Bayern Munich to claim top spot ahead of next week’s season finale.
In a remarkable display of dominance, Dortmund registered 16 shots on goal in the first half alone, while Augsburg managed only one. Despite their advantage, the home side struggled to find the breakthrough, even after Augsburg’s Felix Uduokhai received a red card in the 38th minute. The deadlock was broken in the 58th minute when Haller expertly scored a great goal.
Augsburg attempted a comeback with a chance of their own, but Dortmund’s goalkeeper Gregor Kobel thwarted Irvin Cardona’s 10-meter shot with a fantastic save. Haller eased Dortmund’s nerves with a tap-in, and Brandt cemented the win in stoppage time.
Borussia Dortmund, whose last title came in 2012 under the guidance of then-coach Jurgen Klopp, now sits on 70 points, two ahead of Bayern Munich. The Bavarians suffered a surprising 3-1 home defeat to RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Dortmund will face Mainz in the season’s final matchday, while Bayern, boasting 10 consecutive league titles, will travel to Cologne for their closing match.
Haller’s brace was particularly noteworthy, as the striker had been sidelined for much of the season after being diagnosed with testicular cancer last year. His display on Sunday demonstrated his return to full fitness and readiness to contribute to Dortmund’s quest for their first league title in nine years.
Overall, Dortmund’s commanding performance bodes well for their pivotal match against Mainz 05 next week. A victory would secure their status as German champions for the first time in nearly a decade.
