Borussia Dortmund 3 - 2 RB Leipzig | Bundesliga | 08.05.21

Borussia Dortmund recovered after surrendering an advantage to move into champions league qualification. A win that meant Bayern claimed their 9th consecutive Bundesliga title ebbed and flowed before being settled by Jadon Sancho, who delivered with a brace. The two sides again lock horns in five days for the final of the DFB-Pokal.

Dortmund's hopes were significantly hampered by the absence of Haaland, through injury and Bellingham, serving a one-match suspension. Predictably we were entertained to a high octane start. The visitors enjoyed the first early chance; it fell to the South Korean, Hwang. After some intricate play on the left-hand side, Sabitzer played an early ball in behind Hummels to find his teammate. The striker showed great strength to hold off the German defender before stretching to finish. Marwin Hitz was on hand to deflect away with his feet.

Three minutes later, Dortmund broke the deadlock with a beautifully well-worked goal. Reus, the architect. On the right flank, Piszczek played a pass inside toward Reus, who, after dummying, received a flick from Hazard as he continued his run. The forward took a decisive touch to control in front of Orban before he lashed his shot into the roof of the Leipzig net. A well-deserved opener. The home side, enjoying a four-match winning run, got in behind the Leipzig defence on a couple of further occasions, forcing a corner from a Reus deflected effort and seeing another strike go well wide.

The technical ability of both sides was a thing to marvel at throughout. Both teams created fluid passing moves on several occasions, but both failed with that elusive final pass. Another such move from Dortmund - one-touch passing down their left-hand side saw the ball with Guerreiro; the recovering Forsberg cut out his cut-back.

Aside from that early Leipzig chance, Dortmund dominated the early exchanges. With only five minutes to play in the first, Sancho had an excellent opportunity to double Dortmund's lead. Leipzig, deploying their usual high line, lost possession, and Terzic's men broke. Reus received a pass from Dahoud on the halfway line, Upamecano, the last defender, pressing him high. After turning his man, he found the Englishman, Sancho, striding through - to the defender's credit, his pace, power and reputation told. Despite the winger's speed, the Frenchman recovered and shepherded him wider of the goal than he'd like. Sancho's tight effort only rippled the side netting.

Leipzig's crisp build-up play was all they could muster in the first period. A tame effort from Sabitzer, just before the break, was the only thing of note after Hwang's early try.

The visitors, who came into the encounter knowing only a win would keep their titles hopes alive, began the second half improved. Fired up by Nagelsmann's half time rant, Sabitzer had a strike well saved from Roman Burki, who had replaced the injured Hitz at Half time. Despite their improvement, it was Dortmund who doubled their lead straight after the break. Emre Can recycled the play after a Leipzig clearance and found Guerreiro on the left. The defender played it forward to Sancho, now fully fit and back to his best, who showed his class with a feint inside before nonchalantly passing it into the back of the net. Another early concession from Leipzig, another early dagger for the hosts.

Leipzig, who had flattered to deceive for most of the encounter, finally showed some bite. After a period of controlled possession, they struck from a corner on the hour—Forsberg put in the delivery, which was expertly steered home by Klostermann. Nagelsmann brought on midfielder Mukiele and forward Justin Kluivert just after the goal, which injected further venom into their attacks. The game now stretched with the visitors seeking a comeback saw more significant goalmouth action. Kluivert, who had just come on, could have scored but dallied, and the ball was pinched from behind before he could strike. Shortly after, Kluivert was involved again, pouncing on a pass in behind before finding Olmo, who could only hit into the side netting after smartly turning.

On the ropes, Dortmund's answer was to bring on Julian Brandt. It did little to swing the pendulum of play. From two goals down, Leipzig fought back to level it up. Mukiele on the left flank played a pass through to Hwang running through. His marker, Hummels, was unable to make a tackle as the striker arrived on goal. He showed great composure to pick out his teammate, Olmo, joining the attack, who passed it into an open net. Ten minutes to play, and Leipzig had wholly turned the tie around.

Dortmund did have a rare attacking foray. With only Upamecano back, Reus was unable to get off a clean strike as he was smothered by the robust defending of the Frenchman. But only two minutes later, they strung together a move ever-present in the first period. Sancho, teasing the Leipzig defence, cutely back-heeled a pass into the path of Guerreiro on the overlap. The Portuguese full-back steadied and found Sancho, who had repositioned himself in the six-yard box, to finish unopposed. Recovery out of nowhere, so vital in Dortmund's champions league qualification hunt.

Dortmund's late winner seals Bayerns' latest Bundesliga triumph and lifts the hosts into third place. A great end to end encounter that bodes well for Thursday's final clash.