Borussia Dortmund climbed off the bottom of the Bundesliga on Saturday with their first win in seven matches, as Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang scored twice in a 3-0 win at SC Freiburg.
German star Marco Reus gave Dortmund an early lead before Gabon winger Aubemayang added two second-half goals in Dortmund’s first win since the start of December last year.
“We must keep believing things will move forward after three or four months in which they didn’t. Today was a step in the right direction,” Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said.
The result lifted Dortmund to 16th, while Freiburg slipped to 17th, still leaving both teams in the drop zone with Dortmund out to avoid their first relegation since 1972.
Leaders Bayern Munich continued their march to a third straight title with a 2-0 win at Stuttgart, which saw Huub Stevens’ side drop to bottom of the table.
“It was very important to score just before half-time. I’m happy for both myself and the team — it was important to get a win today,” Bayern goal-scorer Arjen Robben said.
Robben scored his second goal in as many games when he fired home from 13m out just before the half-time break to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.
Left-back David Alaba then drilled home a superb free-kick from 30m out to make it 2-0 with 50 minutes gone.
Bayern stay eight points clear of second-placed Wolfsburg, who gave Germany winger Andre Schuerrle his debut after he moved from Chelsea in a 3-0 win at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne claimed two goals in the impressive display.
Schuerrle needed just three minutes to make his mark, when his pinpoint accurate cross was met by Bas Dost for the Dutch striker to fire home his fourth goal in four games.
Schuerrle clattered the crossbar with a shot on 28 minutes, but De Bruyne headed home the rebound.
Dost then turned provider for De Bruyne to claim his eighth goal of the season — his fifth in the last three games — in what is proving to be a productive campaign for the 23-year-old.
Hertha BSC bounced back from the sacking of coach Jos Luhukay on Thursday with an impressive display, which lifted them out of the bottom three after their 2-0 win at ten-man FSV Mainz 05.
With Hungary national team coach Pal Dardai now at the helm, the visitors took the lead when Jens Hegler netted a 35th-minute penalty after former Manchester City goalkeeper Loris Karius was sent off.
Hertha doubled their lead on 43 minutes when Roy Beerens slotted home after Valentin Stocker had hit the post to leave Berlin 14th.
Hamburg SV continued their march up the table to go 11th after their second consecutive victory with a 2-1 win at home to Hanover 96.
Hanover’s Brazilian defender Marcelo gave Hamburg the lead when he turned the ball into his own net after 26 minutes.
Ex-Germany midfielder Marcell Jansen added Hamburg’s second on 50 minutes, before Poland striker Artur Sobiech scored Hanover’s consolation with just over 20 minutes left.
Hanover are eighth, despite being winless in their last four games.
SC Paderborn 07 dropped to just above the relegation spots after their goalless draw at Cologne, while Schalke 04 went third on Friday with a 1-0 home win against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
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