Borussia Dortmund kept the pressure on leaders Bayern Munich as they defeated Union Berlin 3-0 at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. A Marco Reus double was enough to grab all three points and put Dortmund’s championship charge back on track following their 5-2 thrashing at home by Bayer Leverkusen last week.
Only Bayern Munich had beaten Union at home since September 2020 and ‘Die Eisernen’ looked a side full of confidence in front of a fervent support. However, just as Urs Fischer’s side were getting a foothold in the game, Dortmund’s captain and talisman Reus stroked home his 150th goal for the club in all competitions following a good move. It didn’t take long for ‘Die Borussian’ to double their advantage and it was Reus again, racing through and taking the ball past the goalkeeper before slotting home. Dortmund’s skipper was supposed to be playing a deeper-lying position but was finding so much space that he was virtually unmarked for the first half. As the half drew to a close it was only the second time this season that Union were trailing at HT in home league games this season.
Union had an excellent opportunity at the start of the second period to grab a goal back, however Grischa Prömel’s header was placed well wide. Dortmund had conceded two goals or more in their last five league matches despite winning three of them, Marco Rose’s men were determined to be better defensively. So when Union’s Sheraldo Becker went close with a curling effort that went inches wide, Dortmund’s hearts were in their mouths. Slowly but surely, Dortmund stamped their authority on the second half as the home side began to run out of ideas and the third goal was scored when Raphaël Guerreiro stabbed home inside the six yard box. Frustrations mounted for Union as Kevin Mӧhwald powered a header into the back of the net, but following a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.
‘Die Borussian’ defended a period of home pressure to keep their first clean sheet away from home since April 2021, and to cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga to six points with the same amount of games played.