A single goal from Ilkay Gündogan was the highlight in a superb performance for Borussia Dortmund. After dominating from start ot finish, it could easily have been more, but there were glimpses of the BVB from previous seasons. It's a result that will please Dortmund fans immensely, although Hoffenheim will have wanted to have contributed more in an attacking sense.
It's been a week of accusations, questions and everything in between for Jürgen Klopp and his team. The man himself described the game as, "high noon", with many discussing the permutations and connotations of what could come from another loss. Klopp made five changes from the loss in Frankfurt, with Mitchell Langerak, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer, Ilkay Gündogan and Adrian Ramos coming into the starting eleven. This meant that for the first time in seventy-two games, BVB could start the same defence as the 2013 Champions League final. Roman Weidenfeller, Matthias Ginter, Erik Durm, Shinji Kagawa and Kevin Großkreutz dropped to the bench.
For Hoffenheim, things were much more comfortable. A solid start to the season meant Markus Gisdol's men were part of the pack gunning for European football. An eventful four-three win over Hannover left the side from Sinsheim sitting just one point behind fourth-placed Augsburg. Following the win, Sebastian Rudy regained his starting place, with Stephen Zuber missing out.
The game began with the Dortmund fans creating a cauldron of noise. Naturally the stadium is famed for it's amazing atmosphere, but tonight it seemed to rise a few more decibels. Schmelzer and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had opportunities in the opening second, and had they scored it could have lifted the roof off the Westfalenstadion. Hoffenheim were playing their part too, with Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland creating early chances with some dangerous dribbles.
However, the baying fans didn't have to wait much longer for their opening goal and what a noise it brought about. Henrikh Mkhitaryan played Aubameyang down the right-hand side, the Gabonese winger whipped in an inch perfect cross towards the head of Ilkay Gündogan and he stooped to head home. His first goal since the Supercup win in July 2013, 496 days ago, the header was an out-pouring of relief from player and fans alike.
BVB continued to up the ante, knowing that capitalising on their momentum and scoring a second could prove crucial; even though they had lost a two-goal lead against Paderborn a few weeks previous. Their flowing football was seemingly returning, although Felix Zwayer wasn't aiding the attempts to let the game run. Ramos, Sebastian Kehl and Niklas Süle were all in the referee's notebook after the half-hour, with all three bemused to receive the bookings.
The return of 'that' back-four and a fit Gündogan was doing wonders for the team. They'd found a new verve and were passing the ball about like it was 2013 again, the confidence was there and it was a reassuring sight for all concern with the Westphalians. Sven Schipplock was threatening to spoil the party of the hosts, the Hoffenheim forward struck a powerful shot that went just wide of Langerak's post. Nevertheless, the Australian was rarely troubled and Dortmund had a lead at half-time.
If that wasn't a wake-up call, Sebastian Rudy's costless-kick being cleared off the line by Mats Hummels certainly was. Though BVB were equally unlucky at the other end; as Aubameyang had a perfectly good diving header, similar the opening goal, ruled out wrongly for offside. This didn't deter the hosts, with wave after wave of attack; the midfielder had another chance when Gündogan slipped him through, but Oliver Baumann stood strong and blocked with his feet. He topped that a few moments later, when he somehow managed to tip Hummels' bullet-header over the bar.
The last twenty minutes continued to be full of BVB dominance, with Aubameyang again having a goal denied due to an offside flag. This time the decision was correct, but the turn and finish were top class. It was turning into a battle between Baumann and the Dortmund attack, with the Gabonese forward thwarted once more by Freiburg's former stopper. Despite further chances for Mkhitaryan and Gündogan, neither could add to the score-line and the home side ran out deserved one-nil winners.
The win moves Dortmund into fourteenth, level on points with Hertha Berlin. Although it is still possible for them to end up bottom after victory, however unlikely it may be, it's a huge boost ahead of their game against Anderlecht in mid-week and a trip to Berlin after that. For Hoffenheim, it's a third loss in four games and will be disappointed that they failed to offer an attacking threat all evening. They host Eintracht Frankfurt next Friday and will be pleased that, due to the tight nature of the table, they won't lose too much ground in the race for Europe.