Borussia Dortmund got their first win since December 5th, thanks to an impressive performance against SC Freiburg. Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were key parts of the victory, with the latter grabbing a brace. Ilkay Gündogan also played a vital role in midfield, as they moved off the bottom rung of the Bundesliga ladder.
Freiburg, after a solid start to the Rückrunde, were hoping to inflict a first defeat on Borussia Dortmund for what seemed like an eternity. 2010 was the last time Christian Streich's men defeated the Westphalians and they would have few better chances to do so with their current form. Pavel Krmas returned to the side in place of Immanuel Höhn, who dropped to the bench.
The 1-0 loss to FC Augsburg kept Borussia Dortmund bottom of the Bundesliga and the images of players talking to the Südtribüne were broadcast around the world. It was an odd situation for Jürgen Klopp and his side, as Shinji Kagawa, Lukas Piszczek and Neven Subotic came in for Kevin Großkreutz (Torn thigh muscle), Ciro Immobile and Sokratis (both benched) to try to spark a response.
Dortmund were on it from the off, with Marco Reus almost turning home Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's cross. Ilkay Gündogan also let fly from range but his volley was comfortably held by Roman Bürki.
The Swiss stopper pulled out another two crucial stops; denying Reus' effort and then producing a fantastic acrobatic save from Gündogan's lobbed shot, in what was an impressive opening surge from BVB.
That early pressure paid dividends as the visitors took advantage of a Freiburg error. Mike Frantz's attempt to play the ball back to Bürki was desperately lacking in power and when Aubameyang pounced on it, there was no doubting the outcome. He went one-on-one with Bürki, before sliding it across to Reus and he gleefully tapped in his fourth goal of the season.
Frantz almost made a carbon-copy mistake a few minutes later, though this time his goalkeeper was able to bail him him. Gündogan's fourth attempt, from range, of the game very nearly found the bottom corner, with Freiburg slowly coming into the game.
A wonderful flowing move down the right-hand side could have doubled BVB's lead, but Shinji Kagawa was shut down just before he got his shot off. Frantz issued a response for Freiburg and his shot whistled wide of the largely inactive Roman Weidenfeller's post.
He wasn't a spectator for much longer, Oliver Sorg's fantastically well-struck half-volley had the veteran 'keeper scrambling. Thankfully for BVB, he managed to push it to safety and Klopp's side went into half-time with a well-deserved advantage.
Dortmund were back on it again in the second-half and Aubameyang's acrobatic, improvised volley went close to extending the visitors' lead. The Gabonese international did, however, make it 2-0 moments later.
His sixth of the season, Aubameyang was set racing through by Gündogan's inch-perfect through ball. Bürki rushed out to close the angle, but there was no stopping the rampaging forward and he finished with aplomb.
The goal did seem to spring Freiburg into life and Dani Schahin looked like he could grab a goal back but instead Neven Subotic managed to clear the ball to safety.
It was all in vain as Aubameyang grabbed his brace to seal the win. Some lovely build-up play around the box saw the BVB forward break free from Freiburg's attentions and slot home a cultured finished for his ninth goal this term.
The relief at the final whistle was immense; the first away win since beating Augsburg on matchday two. It also moved them off the bottom of the table and above Freiburg, who slip to 17th.
Dortmund will play host to Mainz on Friday night next time out, with Freiburg traveling to the capital to take on Hertha BSC.