Borussia Dortmund came into today’s late Bundesliga kick-off playing catch-up with Bayern Munich once again.

As for Werder Bremen, they are still very much fighting for league survival with no team inside of the top ten really safe from relegation.

Despite the best efforts of the visitors, they fell just short and succumbed to a 3-2 defeat.

Dortmund in control

Dortmund started the first half on the front foot, the same theme would follow throughout the remainder of the half. Just 15 minutes in, Marco Reus picked the ball up just outside the box and played a pin-point pass through to Eric Durm, who received the ball on the penalty spot but could only fire straight at Felix Wiedwald

BVB continued to pose a threat to Bremen in the opening exchanges, enjoying some early possession and creating quite a few chances that amounted to nothing. The closest Bremen got to a goal was a low cross fired towards Anthony Ujah, however, the ball was just inches away from the striker's foot. 

Beside’s Ujah’s chance, Thomas Tuchel’s side were in cruise control, but they continued to fall short of a goal; leaving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to take numerous long-range attempts.  

Aubameyang is now up to 23 league goals. | Source: Getty Images
Aubameyang is now up to 23 league goals. | Source: Getty Images

Crazy final ten minutes

Dortmund began the second half as the aggressors once again, and it wasn't long until they broke the deadlock. After seven minutes of the half, Aubameyang was played through on goal by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and calmly chipped the ball over the Bremen 'keeper. 

Not long after Aubameyang’s opening goal, Bremen managed to find an equaliser in the 68th minute. Following the corner taken by Zlakto Junuzovic, the ball pinballed around the area until it found its way to Alejandro Galvez, who smashed the ball across the box deflecting off Gonzalo Castro; he was unlucky to finish the ball off into his own net. 

In a crazy ten minutes, Bremen found themselves ahead. After an excellent run from Levin Öztunali, who was fouled out wide, saw him get straight back up and cut the ball back to Junuzovic who ended up tucking the ball away, past Roman Bürki

Four minutes after being subbed on, Japanese superstar Shinji Kagawa was straight into the action netting the equaliser for ‘Die Schwarzgelben’. A low cross from Marcel Schmelzer found Kagawa wide open on the penalty spot, and the Japanese had no problem finishing for his fifth league goal of the season.

The final nail in the coffin came from another BVB substitute. Adrian Ramos gave Dortmund the lead once again in the game, following a corner taken by Mkhitaryan, Ramos was left wide open and headed past Wiedwald, with his very first touch since coming off the bench securing a 3-2 win.

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About the author
Reece O Brien
18-year-old, a strong passion for German football especially Bayer 04 Leverkusen.