Bundesliga table as Dortmund go level with Bayern Munich
By Euan Burns
Fans of the Bundesliga are being treated to a genuine title race this season as at least three teams are fully in the mix to win the title. Bayern Munich's domination could come to an end and a victory for Borussia Dortmund over Hertha Berlin has taken them level at the top.
The two Berlin sides were involved in the title race in two very different ways on Sunday as earlier in the day, Union Berlin were unable to move to the top of the Bundesliga as they played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with Schalke 04.
The reason that the fight has tightened up so much is that Bayern Munich were beaten by Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, losing 3-2 away from home. Dayot Upamecano was sent off after just eight minutes and despite it being 1-1 until the 55th minute, Monchengladbach won the game and opened the door for Union and Dortmund.
Edin Terzic's side were the only one to take that chance though as they beat Hertha Berlin 4-1 at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday afternoon. Hertha started promisingly but Dortmund soon asserted control with Karim Adeyemi scoring a wonderful back-heeled attempt after a slick counter-attack.
Position | Club | Games Played | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bayern Munich | 21 | 40 | 43 |
2 | Borussia Dortmund | 21 | 17 | 43 |
3 | Union Berlin | 21 | 11 | 43 |
4 | SC Freiburg | 21 | 3 | 40 |
5 | RB Leipzig | 21 | 17 | 39 |
6 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 21 | 13 | 38 |
Adeyemi was then integral to the second goal which came before the break as he ran forward and played the ball across the face of goal for Donyell Malen to net a second. Adeyemi did pull up with an injury as a result of that pass and had to be taken off straight away.
Pedestrian defending from Dortmund at the start of the second half meant that Lucas Tousart was able to fire Hertha back into the game, but with 15 minutes left to play, Marco Reus scored a wonderful free-kick into the top corner and made sure the points would stay in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The icing on the cake was then added by Julian Brandt as he finished off some wonderful work by English youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. The victory means that three teams are on the same points at the top of the Bundesliga and six teams can be considered in the picture for the title.