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Aubameyang heads home for Dortmund

February 4, 2017

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put his transfer musings to one side, as instructed, and banged in his 17th of the Bundesliga season as Dortmund beat RB Leipzig 1-0. The win moves Dortmund up to third in the league.

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Deutschland  Borussia Dortmund v RB Leipzig
Image: Reuters/W. Rattay

Borussia Dortmund 1-0 RB Leipzig
(Aubameyang 35')

It might have been Aubameyang who netted the only goal of the night, but his header would not have been possible without some fleet-footed work on the flank from Ousmane Dembele. Dortmund's French flair player broke free down the right, riding two tackles and embarrassing Marvin Compper, before dropping his cross onto the unmarked Aubameyang's head. 

Deutschland Borussia Dortmund v RB Leipzig
The back-post cross left keeper Peter Gulasci with no chance, but RB's defenders could have tracked Auba betterImage: Reuters/W. Rattay

It was Leipzig's only real defensive lapse in an otherwise disciplined first period. 

What the Bundesliga's not-so-shocking surprise package lacked all night, however, was attacking rhythm. Missing Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg in attack and Diego Demme in the middle of the park, Leipzig never really clicked into gear to threaten Roman Bürki's goal. David Selke, in for Werner, was subbed out early in the second half without having fired a shot at goal. 

Dortmund looked stronger in the second period, but wastefulness in front of Peter Gulasci's goal meant that the match remained a tense affair. Marco Reus, in particular, might have netted a hat-trick if he'd made more of opportunities on the counterattack facilitated by Aubameyang's pace. 

In stoppage time, home fans - who spent most of the night vying for the most creative Red Bull insult award with an array of critical banners - must have briefly come close to regurgitating their half-time beer. RB Leipzig's 21-year-old Federico Palacios-Martinez - a late sub probably only enjoying game time due to the team's missing stars - had the ball in the back of Bürki's net. However, the linesman's flag was rightly raised for offside. 

The victory restores Dortmund to the Champions League positions, third in the table at least until Frankfurt play on Sunday. Still, Germany's traditional number 2 remains eight points adrift of the energy drinks empire - and surely the pressure on Thomas Tuchel and friends will only truly subside if they can reel in their newfound foes. 

You can re-read our play-by-play of the game below.

 

Hallam Mark Kommentarbild App
Mark Hallam News and current affairs writer and editor with DW since 2006.@marks_hallam